The U.S. Army is working to integrate 3D printing in its supply chain

China3D printingNet February 6th,AmericaThe head of the Army Equipment Command, Gen. Gus Perna, said at a press conference in Washington on February 4, 2020,The Army is working hard to develop its supply chain to support the integration of additive manufacturing.
Perna pointed out that the technology has been tested and tried out recently. Therefore, for the U.S. Army, it is effective to develop an effective deployment and use especially in armory, warehouses and factories.3D printingThe method is already very important.

To this end, Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy (Ryan D. McCarthy) approved an advanced manufacturing policy in October 2019, which focuses on “ready modernization through advanced manufacturing.”The policy aims to promote3D printingThe adoption of to quickly manufacture parts.Perna reiterated its commitment to advanced manufacturing and3D printingAnd stated that the next step for the U.S. Army is to develop a process for using the technology capabilities throughout the force.



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3D printingMetal parts, used to test the function of custom alloys.This part shows the symbol of the newly formed Army Future Command3D printingGeometric features. Image courtesy of the US Army/David McNally.

Additive Manufacturing in the U.S. Army

Over the years, the U.S. Army has established many additive manufacturing programs. In addition to seeking to develop and implement technologies within the military, the U.S. Army has also acted as a major source of funding for cutting-edge research around technology.
For example, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in cooperation with the Marine Corps System Command (MCSC) is using3D printingCement construction base.Used for3D printingThe development of high-strength alloys is just one of many additive manufacturing research projects currently underway by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL).

At the end of 2018, ARL and the National Manufacturing Science Center (NCMS) also opened an Advanced Manufacturing, Materials and Process (AMMP) Center in Aberdeen, Maryland.leading3D printingMachine OEM 3D Systems is an important collaborator in the center’s additive manufacturing project.
In 2019, before formulating the advanced manufacturing policy, one of the most prominent developments was the launch of the AMNOW program catalyst link by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Processing (NCDMM) and the additive manufacturing accelerator America Makes, as well as consulting companies in Pennsylvania. The program is funded by the U.S. Army Combat Capability Development Command (CCDC) Aviation and Missile Center to promote the integration of supplements into Army logistics.

During the 3D concrete printing process, the Marine Corps personnel of the 7th Engineer Support Battalion took a group photo with the engineers of the US Army Engineering Construction Engineering Research Laboratory. Image courtesy of the United States Marine Corps/ Staff Sgt. Michael Smith

The next step for the U.S. military

Looking to the future, Perna explained that the plan is to build an advanced manufacturing center of excellence in Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. The center has reached initial operational capacity in May 2019, which is the basis for all additive manufacturing capabilities of the US Army. According to Perna, the U.S. Army has invested approximately $25 million in equipment at the center.

The next step is to extend these capabilities to other warehouses, factories and weapons depots in the army, and divisions. Various departments have been authorized to purchase additive manufacturing equipment, but few people have adopted the technology at the tactical level.will3D printingThe difficulty of introducing technology into this field lies in the operability and time, as well as3D printingPractical problems such as power supply for machine operation. In an interview with National Defense News, Perna explained: “I can’t just put a lot of machines there, I must have the right machines. Therefore, I hope the machines there can repair some of our things.”

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