DLA News Archive

Tag: Additive Manufacturing

March 24, 2017

Graduate school unveils new 3D metal printer

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Maxwell Air Force Base website — The Air Force Institute of Technology at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has been utilizing additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to build prototypes with polymers for more than 30 years. On March 16, its Graduate School of Engineering and Management unveiled a new state-of-the-art metal additive manufacturing system that enables AFIT to digitally fabricate aerospace metal parts.

Senior Airman Nathanael Banden, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, checks on the 3-D printer as it prints a training aid, Dec. 14, 2016, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. Printing jobs can take anywhere from 10 to more than 48 hours to complete, depending on the size and complexity of the training aid. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Shawna L. Keyes)

Jan. 17, 2017

4th CES EOD employ new 3-D printing capability

SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base website — In 2014, the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal community identified the need for a unit-level additive manufacturing, or 3-D printing, capability in order to accomplish two objectives: to field low-cost training aids and to obtain rare or specialized EOD tools.

Lance Cpl. Jose Marroquin, electrical optical ordnance repair, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, projects his ping pong using a make-shift sling shot during a 3D printing class aboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., Nov. 16, 2016. Over the three-day course, Marines were challenged to manufacture innovative solutions for the problems presented to them using 3D printing innovation. (Official Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Medina Ayala-Lo/Released)

Nov. 21, 2016

Combat Center Marines get schooled on 3D printing

Twentynine Palms — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center website — Marines with 7th Marine Regiment and Combat Logistics Company 13 took on the opportunity to learn 3D printing at 1st Tank Battalion’s classrooms Nov. 14-16, 2016.

U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mathew Wright, a motor transportation maintenance officer with Marine Wing Support Squadron 372, conducts maintenance on an Invent3D printer during a 3-D printer integration exercise at site 50 training area, Wellton, Arizona, Oct. 18, 2016. Wright used the additive manufacturing equipment to make objects from 3-D model data throughout Weapons Tactics Instructors course 1-17. Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One cadre host WTI which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force. MAWTS-1 provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics.

Oct. 24, 2016

Printing the future: MWSS-372 successfully tests 3-D printing in a field environment

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the Marine Corps website — A Humvee door handle might not seem like the start of a new era in the Marine Corps, but the Marines of MWSS-327 believe that this small piece of plastic is exactly that. Embracing Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller’s recent push for Marines to innovate, MWSS-372 is one of the first units to experiment with 3-D printing.

Lt. Gen. Michael Dana, center-left, Deputy Commandant of Installations and Logistics, shakes hands with Col. Mathew Reuter, center, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Regiment 25, at Camp Lejeune, N.C., Aug. 17. Dana visited various units throughout II Marine Expeditionary Force to observe advancements in logistical technology. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Lucas Hopkins)

Aug. 22, 2016

DoD officials observe logistical innovation throughout II MEF

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — Logistics In Action: Article originally appeared on the II Marine Expeditionary Force website — Top officials from the Department of Defense observed demonstrations of new technological equipment Aug. 17.

Defense Logistics Agency Aviation Commander Air Force Brig. Gen. Allan Day tours additive manufacturing displays Dec. 2, 2015 during the Defense Manufacturing Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

Feb. 22, 2016

DLA Aviation seeks improved legacy support through additive manufacturing

RICHMOND, Virginia — Creating items in three dimensions instead of two is sometimes compared to creating a sculpture instead of a portrait. Even though we live in a 3D world, engineers were limited for many years to 2D drawings/sketches to communicate thoughts and ideas. Today with technological advances in additive manufacturing methods and other technologies, engineers can go directly from a 3D idea to a 3D object.