EPlus3D

3D Printed Bullets Developed and Tested by Russian Researchers

Electronics
Metal AM Markets
AMR Military

Share this Article

1484824_-_main

[Image: US Air Force]

Most of the world’s leading countries, including the US, sometimes struggle to keep up with ammunition production. In 2013, US guns and ammunition manufacturers were running at full capacity and still couldn’t meet the demands of the government and general consumers. Russia may have found a solution to the production issue: 3D printed bullets.

Compared to traditional and conventional manufacturing methods, 3D printing offers five main benefits for ammunition production:

  1. Broader range of materials
  2. Cost efficiency
  3. Time reduction
  4. Precision and accuracy
  5. Automated manufacturing processes

Because of the size, the unique round shape and explosiveness, the structure of the bullet is divided into two core parts: the outer layer (copper jacket) and lead core. The outer layer is shaped from a thin sheet of copper and is used to cover and protect the lead core which then explodes at the target. With traditional manufacturing methods, the lead core and outer layer have to be created separately then merged together in the final process.

258790006_4

 When the outer layer is coated onto the lead core, it sometimes creates certain holes or spaces that could impact the performance of bullets. Since a machine delivers the copper jacket to the lead core and manually covers it, it often fails to completely and tightly cover the lead core.

rpfThe 3D printing-based bullet manufacturing method created and tested by the Russian Foundation for Advanced Research Projects in the Defense Industry (FPI) and defense research center JSC Tsniitochmash creates bullets layer by layer, leaving no space or vulnerability between the outer coating and lead core. The FPI stated that the precision of their 3D printing method allowed the bullet to perform similarly to traditionally manufactured ammunition.

“Foundation for Advanced Studies and JSC “TSNIITOCHMASH” successfully conducted tests of an experimental batch of bullets that were created using layered laser melting technology (PLC-bullet). Layering technology today becomes a new paradigm for high-tech industry: it is a fast production method with accelerated development of components, parts and structures. Laser fusion is the quickest way to bring an idea of a product to its realization,” stated the FPI.

If the FPI continues to develop its 3D printing method and manages to implement it in a commercial scale, it could be presented as a solution to the world’s ammunition issues and inefficiency of most ammunition production mechanisms. The FPI will soon be able to test its method on a wider range of products, including guns, tanks, and aircraft parts, among many others. Discuss in the 3D Printed Bullets forum at 3DPB.com.

[Source: FPI]

Share this Article


Recent News

Over 20B Aerospace Parts to Be 3D Printed by 2030 – AMR’s Chart of the Week

3D Printing News Unpeeled: Iowa Tears Down 3D Printed House, Immensa gets $20m



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Featured

Iowa Demolishes Its First 3D Printed Home

In May 2023, the city of Muscatine, Iowa embarked on an ambitious plan to construct 3D printed homes. The weekend before Thanksgiving, the first such home was demolished. 3D rendering...

3D Printing News Briefs, November 25, 2023: Housing, Seed Funding, & More

We’re starting with additive construction news in this Thanksgiving weekend edition of 3D Printing News Briefs, and then moving on to seed funding and a Memorandum of Understanding. Finally, we’ll...

Featured

Mighty Buildings to 3D Print Visitors Center alongside Buckminster Fuller’s Dome Home

Mighty Buildings, the Oakland-based additive construction (AC) firm specializing in prefabricated, climate-resilient homes, has partnered with the R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Not-For-Profit to 3D print a visitors center and...

Featured

Alquist 3D & the State of Colorado to Build a Foundation for 3D Printed Housing: Interview with CEO Zachary Mannheimer

No matter how much progress is made in printing with concrete, additive construction (AC) may always be the wild card of the additive manufacturing (AM) sector. So much the better:...