military applications

3D Printing & the Military: Stingers & Tigers

As stated in the first part of this series, the U.S. military appears committed to extensively employing 3D printing in the enhancement, maintenance, extension, and improvement of its arsenal and…

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US Army Blows up 3D Printed Buildings in Latest Tests

At Camp Atterbury, Indiana, in October 2023, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) demonstrated blast testing of concrete structures built with additive construction (AC) techniques to other members of…

Concrete Dreams: 3D Printing for Military Construction Enables New Tactics, Pt. 2

The U.S. military is taking an extraordinary interest in 3D printing for construction, with the U.S. Army in particular looking at swarm 3D printing and making better concrete for additive…

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U.S. Military Innovation Pushed to the Frontlines with Advanced Manufacturing

Since at least World War One, the U.S. military has been the principle driver of American technological innovation. This is such a well-worn narrative by now — subsuming the origins…

US Army AMNOW Program – Demonstrating the Digital AM Supply Chain

The Army’s AMNOW program completed its objectives in late 2022.  The objective of the 3-year program, which originated with the Aviation and Missile Command (AvMC) and led by NCDMM, was…

UK Army’s First 3D Printed Metal Parts Used in Active Duty

Babcock International Group, a leading defense contractor and engineering services firm in the UK, announced that the firm has delivered metal tank periscope clamps made with additive manufacturing (AM) to…

US Navy Fulfills First NATO Stock Number Orders for 3D Printed Parts

As active as has been the US military’s support for the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, in general, the US Navy might be the branch whose progress has accelerated most quickly…

SPEE3D Releases XSPEE3D: “World’s Fastest All-In-One, Containerized Metal 3D Printer”

In 2022, numerous developments seem to be signaling that metal additive manufacturing (AM) has entered a new era in its history. One company epitomizing this trajectory is Australia’s SPEE3D, which…

UK’s Ministry of Defence Launches Project TAMPA to Stimulate 3D Printing Applications for the Military

Last month, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced the official launch of Project TAMPA, a potentially seven-year-long program to increase the amount of 3D printed parts purchased by the…

America Makes to Host Technical 3D Printing Event in October 2022

Hot on the heels of its MMX 2022 and 10-year anniversary events, America Makes, the country’s top public-private partnership for additive manufacturing technology and education, is announcing its Fall 2022…

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MMX 2022: The US Air Force Deploys 3D Printing

America Makes is the United States’ leading public-private partnership for additive manufacturing (AM) technology and education, working to not only accelerate adoption of the technology in the country, but also to…

US Navy Selects Cold Spray Metal 3D Printing for 2022 REPTEX

VRC Metal Systems, an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) based in South Dakota, announced that the company has been selected to participate in the 2022 REPTEX hosted by the U.S. Navy….

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: June 5, 2022

Last week was a bit of a reprieve, and we’re back in business now with a full schedule of 3D printing webinars and events! Topics include automation, polymer 3D printing…

3D Printing News Briefs, October 27, 2021: Post-Processing, Jet Engines, & More

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re starting off with news about a special report by Wohlers Associates, Inc., and then moving on to research, as a team of engineers…

3D Printing News Briefs, June 26, 2021: TU Braunschweig, Desktop Health, 9T Labs, Alfa Romeo & AM Solutions, Alquist & Virginia Tech, Creaform & USAF

In today’s 3D Printing News Briefs, we’re going over some interesting AM research, and then moving on to certifications, partnerships, military applications, and 3D printed video game characters. Read on…

Should We Begin Preparing for 3D Printed Nuclear Weapons?

The large NC3 (Nuclear Command, Control & Communications) architecture, comprised of systems made up of many airborne, space-based, and terrestrial components meant to connect nuclear forces in the US to the…

US Air Force Awards nScrypt Research Company Contract for 3D Printed Conformal Phased Array Antenna Project

Florida-based nScrypt, which manufactures industrial systems for micro-dispensing and 3D printing, is already seeing its technology used for military applications with the US Army. But now the US Air Force has jumped…

3D Printing News Briefs: December 5, 2017

We’re starting with some new materials, products, and partnerships in today’s 3D Printing News Briefs – GKN and Ultimaker are both introducing new materials, and SprintRay has announced a distribution…

US Marines Successfully Test 3D Printed Containers Packed with Explosive Charges

3D printing technology can undoubtedly be used for good in the military, from surveillance and training to helping in the development of field trauma simulators, from maintaining aging aircraft parts to making 3D…

3D Printing in the Military

3D printing has many military applications. Militaries around the world have been working on developing 3D printing technologies, using 3D printing for prototypes, developing their own fablabs and using the…

Defence IQ Study Suggests 75% of Military Professionals Believe 3D Printing Will Be Standardized

Military research, analysis and commentary company Defence IQ revealed in a recent study presented via infographic that over 28% of surveyed military professionals and stakeholders are actively looking into the development and implementation of…

European Defence Agency Launches Project to Test Feasibility of Additive Manufacturing in Europe’s Defense Sector

We know that 3D printing is versatile and and extremely useful to many industries, including branches of the military. Marines are learning how to utilize the technology in order to…

America Makes Announces $10 Million Research Project for Refining the Efficiency of Air Force Aircraft Part Replacement

From a press conference held at Youngstown State University (YSU), America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, announced a new Directed Project Opportunity to improve US Air Force sustainment…

UK Defense Firm BAE Systems Wants to “Grow” Drones in Vats with Chemical 3D Printing

While 3D printing could eventually cut down on the time it takes to manufacture products, it still requires months if not years to develop them from concept to final end-use…