3D Systems says that it plans to collaborate with Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division to qualify metal additive manufacturing (AM) technologies to build naval warships.
Newport News Shipbuilding is the sole designer, builder and refueler of US Navy aircraft carriers and one of two providers of US Navy submarines. They will move portions of their manufacturing process from traditional methods to AM as a result of this collaboration.
3D Systems has already installed a ProX DMP 320 3D metal printer at Newport News Shipbuilding’s site. The plans to use the printer to produce marine-based alloy replacement parts for castings, valves, housings and brackets for future nuclear-powered warships.
‘3D Systems is proud of our long-standing relationship with the US Navy,’ said Kevin McAlea, executive vice president, general manager, metals and healthcare, 3D Systems. ‘Through this collaboration with Newport News Shipbuilding, our 3D printing solution combined with our team’s expertise in metal 3D printing technology will redefine the supply chain for naval ship components – improving efficiencies and lowering total cost of operation.’
This story uses material from3D Systems, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.