Everyone seems to be adopting 3D printing in one way or another. Whether it’s to make cool little doo-dads in your garage, 3D print a car, or fight terrorists, 3D printing is everywhere. Yes I said ‘fight terrorists’!
On Thursday, the Department of Justice posted a Synopsis/Solicitation for the acquisition of a Stratasys Objet24 3D Printer for use within the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“The 3D printer is cutting-edge technology that will be used by the Terrorist Explosive Device Analytical Center to enhance their capabilities in exploiting improvised explosive devices,” FBI spokeswoman Ann Todd told NextGov.com in an email on Friday.
With all the high tech devices on the market today, and several companies producing them, some may wonder why the FBI chose a $19,999 3D printer from Stratasys. The report discusses this in detail stating,
“The Objet24 Desktop Personal 3D printer is the only instrument capable of producing the high accuracy and resolution results to meet Agency testing standards. The printer also is the only one capable of meeting FBI support data recovery and thermal environment requirements. The Objet24 model is the only 3D printer that satisfies all the technical requirements of the FBI.”
The basic specifications of the Objet24 are as follows:
- Printer Size: 82.5 × 62 × 59 cm
- Printer Weight: 93 kg – 205 lbs
- Tray Size: 240 x 200 x 150mm
- Build Size:234 x 192 x 148.6 mm
- Layer Thickness: 28 micron
- Accuracy: 0.1mm
- Print Material Supported: VeroWhitePlus Opaque material
The FBI isn’t only looking for the base printer but several accessories as well. The complete order will be for the following:
- Stratasys Objet24 Personal 3D Printer – extended warranty
- Stratasys WaterJet – Small Format
- Stratasys Stand for Objet24 Printer
- Stratasys Objet24/30 Start-Up Toolkit
- Installation and Training
- Support Material Kit
- VeroWhitePlus Material Kit
- APC Smart-UPS 1500VA LCD 120V
Whether this is the first 3D printer to be put to use by the FBI or not, we do not know, however, there are no other public records that would indicate such a purchase by the Bureau. The entire solicitation report can be found here.
The exact details on how the government will use this printer to investigate various forms of improvised explosives probably will never be revealed. It could, however, be assumed that ‘improvised explosives’ could pertain to bombs, and bomb casings, 3D printed firearms, or perhaps both. Let us know what you think about this revelation in the FBI 3D printer forum thread at 3DPB.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
3D Printing Industry Worth $13.5B, Will Reach $25B by 2025
According to its latest market data, SmarTech Analysis estimates that the 3D printing industry grew at a rapid pace of about 23% in 2022, reaching $13.5 billion. This number specifically...
SmarTech Releases First Report on Emerging 3D Printing Technologies and OEMs
Key technologies like 3D printing are among the driving forces behind digital transformation in manufacturing. Today, additive manufacturing (AM) platform options go beyond the two historically dominant and pioneering players...
3D Printing Media Outlet 3Dnatives Bought by Largest Plastics Organization, SPE
In one of the latest moves in the 3D printing industry, the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has acquired the French online media platform 3Dnatives. The move comes as the...
Velo3D Metal AM Webinar Powered by 3DPrint.com
3DPrint.com will host a new Velo3D (NYSE: VLD) webinar titled “Unlocking the Potential of Metal AM: Strategies for Scaling Production with Velo3D” to discuss the roadblocks to successfully scaling metal...
Print Services
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.