3D Printing
News Contact us Seen on social
Home / Military / DoD Contracts ExOne to Develop 3D Printing “Factory in a Shipping Container”

DoD Contracts ExOne to Develop 3D Printing “Factory in a Shipping Container”

February 23, 2021

The US military is no stranger to 3D printing, what with their commissioning the largest metal printer and testing conductive plastic 3D printed antenna. A recent contract from the DoD (Department of Defense) is no surprise and fits nicely in the trend of adopting AM across the military branches. And speaking of fitting nicely, the $1.6 million contract went to ExOne to develop and build a metal 3D printing factory that can fit inside a shipping container. That’s a tight fit.

The challenge for ExOne won’t be the metal 3D printing as their binder jet printers produce incredibly complex geometries with mechanical properties that rival machined parts. The trick will be fitting the printer and all the necessary hardware that makes it productive into 320 square feet, and making it sturdy enough to still function after being deployed on the frontline via helicopter. Metal 3D printers have sensitive sensors in order to achieve high resolution, so making them tough enough to maintain that precision after being aggressively moved around is no small order. On top of all of that, the factory has to be easy to use because the troops who will be relying on it won’t specifically be manufacturing specialists. 

container printer
Image credit: ExOne

ExOne CEO John Hartner explains, “We’ve ruggedized the products that are going inside. There’s an element of software that makes the whole thing easier to use together. You start with scanning… so there’s a possibility that you print from a cloud-based repository, but that may not be available for whatever reason, so you may have a broken part that you can scan and do some digital repair to the file and print.” Beyond the metal and ceramic printer, there will also be the curing oven that fully sinters the printed parts, a 3D scanning station for rapid repairs, a fiber-reinforced plastic 3D printer, and a compression molding station. 

The whole idea is that soldiers, with only minimal training, will be able to repair a variety of equipment with the factory, from vehicles and machinery to armor and weaponry. Even something as simple as an equipment hook that adds more carrying capacity (or comfort) to a soldier’s backpack could be quickly fabricated at a low unit cost with a container factory, a part seemingly so unimportant that it normally wouldn’t be worth going through the arduous bureaucratic process to requisition from supply HQ. “Sometimes people talk about disrupting the supply chain and getting decentralized manufacturing. This is decentralized and forward deployed, if you will, be it an emergency, humanitarian mission, or frontlines for a war fighter,” said Hartner.

Related Story
Military Eyes Topology Optimized Heat Exchangers
3d systems dmp line
Related Story
An Overview of 3D Systems’ DMP Metal Printers
Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Latest posts

Anisoprint Sets Up in China

Continuous fiber 3D printing company Anisoprint has opened a new office in Shanghai, China, located in the Additive Manufacturing Technology Centre (AMTC). The... read more »

News
Brake pedal Anisoprint

Researchers Use Silicone to 3D Print Accurate Brain Models

A team of researchers from the University of Florida has developed a new 3D printing technique using silicone that can produce accurate models... read more »

Medical
AMULIT

Mantis 3D Printer Can Print 45kg of Metal an Hour

3D printing startup Rosotics has unveiled its game-changing Mantis 3D printer in Mesa, Arizona. The massive, unfolding printer can produce 45 kg of... read more »

3D Printers
Mantis 3D printer

3D Printed Switchable Explosives Offer Safer Solutions for Mining and Military Applications

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed "switchable" high explosives that require an inert fluid, like water, to be activated, minimizing... read more »

Military
Experimental setup and detonation time lapse

Engineer Wins Prize for 3D-Admix Concrete Printing Additive

Fort Bragg resident and civil engineer, Michael Butler, has won the Most Innovative Product Award at the 2023 World of Concrete International Exhibition.... read more »

Construction
concrete and 3D-Admix

Patent Granted for 3D Printing Embossing Technology

Northann Corp has obtained a European patent for its innovative "DSE Embossing Technology." This new method combines positive and negative embossing techniques in... read more »

News
DSE embossed example

USAF Global Strike Command Embraces 3D Printing for Future Weapon Sustainment

The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) is turning to 3D printing to address its weapon sustainment needs. As the field of additive... read more »

Military
USAF mechanical engineer

Particle Accelerator Sheds New Light on Solidification of Metals During 3D Printing

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, and other institutions have made a... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Shooting X-rays

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
  • Twitter Twitter 3D Printing
  • Geeetech Mizar S Geeetech Mizar S
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $279
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech ALKAID Geeetech ALKAID
    82 x 130 x 190 mm
    $99
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech A30T Geeetech A30T
    320 x 320 x 420 mm
    $449
    Buy Now
  • Modix BIG-60 Modix BIG-60
    600 x 600 x 660 mm
    $4,900
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech Mizar M Geeetech Mizar M
    255 x 255 x 260 mm
    $399
    Buy Now
  • Fusion3 F410 Fusion3 F410
    355 x 355 x 315 mm
    $4,599
    Buy Now
  • Geeetech THUNDER Geeetech THUNDER
    250 x 250 x 260 mm
    $489
    Buy Now
  • Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner
    Hands-On Review: The Mole 3D Scanner Learn More
  • Hands-On Review: Creality Ender 5 S1
    Hands-On Review: Creality Ender 5 S1 Learn More

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Modix BIG Meter Modix BIG Meter
    1010 x 1010 x 1010 mm
    from $13,500
    Request a Quote
  • Industry MAGNUM Industry MAGNUM
    1500 x 1200 x 1200 mm
    €159.000
    Request a Quote
  • Modix BIG-120Z Modix BIG-120Z
    600 x 600 x 1200 mm
    from $7,500
    Request a Quote
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Companies

  • Modix
  • Industry
  • Geeetech

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2023 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing
We serve cookies on this site to analyze traffic, remember your preferences, and optimize your experience.
Details
Close