Home Industry 3D printing on US Navy ships: Aluminum parts produced with ElemX technology

3D printing on US Navy ships: Aluminum parts produced with ElemX technology

For the first time, the US Navy has produced aluminum parts on board a ship using ADDiTEC‘s ElemX 3D printing technology. This liquid metal jetting technology facilitates the production of parts at sea and supports maintenance and repair directly during deployment.

Recently, the USS San Diego printed essential parts using the containerized ElemX 3D printer during its homeport in San Diego. The process proved to be extremely efficient and straightforward, even under the demanding conditions of an active maritime environment. The printed parts were evaluated for quality and performance and proved to be fully functional for their intended applications.

“We are thrilled with the performance of the ElemX 3D printer,” stated Dr. Garth Hobson, Director of the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing, Research and Education, at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California. “The ease of use and the quality of the printed parts exceeded our expectations. This technology represents a significant enhancement in our ability to maintain and repair equipment while at sea.”

The collaboration between the Naval Postgraduate School and CAMRE focuses on testing and researching innovative use cases that demonstrate the operational benefits of additive manufacturing in maritime environments. By utilizing the capabilities of the ElemX 3D printer, critical components and systems could be produced on-demand at sea, significantly reducing logistical challenges and improving vessel readiness.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our 3D printing technologies meets the specific needs of maritime operations, and we are working to continuously enhance their reliability and efficiency, ensuring they are fully mission-ready for any operational demands.” said Brian Mathews, ADDiTEC’s CEO. “Seeing our efforts come to fruition with the successful printing of functional parts at sea is incredibly rewarding. We remain dedicated to our ongoing collaboration with the Navy, focusing on advancing LMJ technology within our innovative new Hybrid Series, which seamlessly integrates both additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities into a single machine.

The ability to print high-strength aluminum alloy components on-demand represents a sea change in resource management and maintenance for the U.S. Navy. This development not only increases operational readiness, but also reduces reliance on traditional supply chains, providing a strategic advantage, particularly in conflicting logistics scenarios.


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