The U.S. Military doesn’t personal the IP for lots of the elements that go into its weapons and platforms, making it tough to simply or affordably reverse engineer and 3D print such elements once they want changing. Lt. Gen. Christopher Mohan, performing commander of Military Materiel Command, mentioned the service could proceed with creating elements independently when distributors can’t present mandatory technical knowledge shortly sufficient.
Mohan cited an instance the place a car was disabled by a defective tire valve, however acquiring restore knowledge required navigating a number of provider tiers earlier than reaching the precise producer. “We will’t stay like that,” Mohan mentioned throughout an interview on the AUSA convention. He prompt the Military wants a mannequin permitting it to “purchase the rights for simply the half we have to print” somewhat than complete programs.
The Military has demonstrated progress in additive manufacturing, together with a present initiative to create 60 elements in 60 days via one in every of its 3D printing “sprints.” The service has additionally established a digital repository containing designs for fundamental gadgets like fan grates and door handles that troopers can obtain and print within the area via tactical networks.
Military Secretary Dan Driscoll highlighted price financial savings from unbiased manufacturing, displaying a Black Hawk gasoline tank fin the Military reverse-engineered and produced for simply over $3,000 in comparison with the seller’s $14,000 substitute price. “They 3D scanned it, reverse engineered it, printed prototypes and carried out structural validation in solely 43 days,” Driscoll mentioned, including that the Military’s model was “300 % stronger and 78 % cheaper.”
In September, Driscoll approved troopers to make battlefield repairs inside established threat pointers, changing a earlier “one measurement suits all” approval course of. Below the brand new system, low-risk repairs can proceed with out higher-level approval, whereas medium and high-risk fixes nonetheless require prolonged authorization processes.
Supply: breakingdefense.com
