Kraetonics awarded AFRL contract to deploy 3D printing for ‘not possible’ next-gen frequency selective surfaces

Kraetonics, an Florida-based developer of software program instruments for additive manufacturing, has secured a $2 million contract from the Air Drive Analysis Laboratory (AFRL) to develop software program and manufacturing applied sciences for next-generation frequency selective surfaces (FSSs).

The 2-year contract will see Kraetonics’ flagship OmniSlice slicing software program used to allow the quick design and 3D printing of constructions containing the superior FSS expertise, which the corporate says may be delivered “in a matter of hours” versus weeks.

FSSs are patterned metallic surfaces utilized in defence platforms to dam, redirect, take in or in any other case management electromagnetic alerts. Kraetonics has secured an unique license from the College of Texas at El Paso for superior algorithms able to wrapping these patterns throughout irregular and doubly curved surfaces with out distorting the metallic components, preserving their electromagnetic efficiency. 

“That is a unprecedented functionality we’re creating for the Air Drive,” mentioned Dr. Raymond C. Rumpf, Kraetonics’s chief expertise officer, who’s main the challenge. “It needs to be not possible to completely wrap repeated patterns over curved surfaces, however the algorithms we’re utilizing can do it. Mixed with OmniSlice, merchandise may be moved from thought to completed {hardware} in mere hours.” 

The challenge started on August eighth 2025 and can conclude on September tenth 2027.