3D Systems has formed a new cooperative R&D agreement with the U.S. Navy to jointly develop and evaluate 3D printing technology and materials for military uses, including helping the Navy fulfill a number of strategic initiatives.
The agreement, with the Naval Sea Systems Command’s (NAVSEA) Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD), could help redefine the supply chain for naval ship components, the company said.
‘The US Navy is at the forefront of a concerted military effort to integrate 3D printing into their operations,’ said Neal Orringer, 3DS’ vice president of alliances and partnerships. ‘Through their Print-the-Fleet initiative, the Navy is educating sailors on the latest in digital manufacturing and accelerating adoption of 3D printing.’
Wider use
‘Additive manufacturing has the potential to be a truly disruptive technology and shows great promise for supporting Naval Sea Systems components,’ said Jennifer Wolk, NSWCCD’s additive manufacturing lead. ‘However, a great deal more needs to be done to ensure this technology can be qualified for repeatable, safe, and effective use. This cooperative research and development agreement is an important step toward broader utilization of this technology.’
This story is reprinted from material from 3D Systems, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
