You’ve probably seen the fun things a 3D printer can do, like making food, detailed action figures, or art. You may not realize that 3D printing is becoming an asset for the US military and how it does business. These three applications for 3D printers in the military prove how far the technology has come since its beginning.
Better Safety Equipment
The military is always searching for ways to enhance efficiency, security, and comfort for service personnel, and 3D printing opens new avenues to explore.
The United States Army uses 3D printing to include sophisticated lattice geometries into the Army’s combat helmet, increasing its resistance to impact. The goal is to increase the safety of soldiers in combat and the likelihood of their survival after a head injury. Real-world testing of the 3D-printed components will inform design refinements and eventual deployment.
The ability to 3D print a prototype and make revisions in a matter of minutes is vital when designing face shields, masks, and other safety gear.
Gimme Shelter
The military is 3D-printing barracks to shelter service troops during training missions. It also uses this technology to make bunkers, vehicle conceal structures, bridges, and buildings in locations across the globe to support and shelter military troops and equipment on bases and in the field.
Huge robotic 3D printers can extrude concrete to form these buildings. When a military mission is complete, civilians may exploit the abandoned buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure left behind after a tragedy or conflict.
The military is also developing 3D-printed runway panels for use in regions with unstable runways that are too hazardous for pilots to land safely. Military aircraft often need to land in areas without runways to finish missions or deliver supplies to ground forces.
Replacement Parts
There’s no need to worry about a shortage of supplies or waiting to fix a damaged part with a 3D printer on standby. Some 3D printers have created propellers with five blades that weigh less than 500 pounds!
ASTRO America (formerly Applied Science & Technology Research Organization) has been collaborating with the United States Army to design and manufacture a hull for military vehicles as part of the Jointless Hull Project. They anticipate this initiative will cut down production times and expenses. It will not only improve the vehicle’s performance and the crew’s chances of survival but also lower the vehicle’s weight. The military is always developing new methods to reduce the size, weight, and vulnerability of its equipment, gear, and vehicles for use in conflict and routine operations.
These three applications for 3D printers in the military are only the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come. A CreatBot F430 3D printer from 3D Printers Depot gives you a taste of what these incredible machines can do. 3D Printers Depot has printers for hobbyists at home and larger-scale versions that may interest military operatives.