Additive Manufacturing in the DoD

The global advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) are far reaching. From a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) perspective, all the Services (U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marine Corps) are working to advance AM materials, processes, and manufacturing technologies. The investment is substantial. Progress is being systematically made through a variety of means including, but not limited to, the following: (1) dedicated DoD Service AM implementation plans, (2) a Federally-funded national network of manufacturing institutes with an increasing number of research programs, and (3) successful AM efforts, including repairs and parts production for noncritical and flight/submarine-critical parts. An update on the status of AM in the DoD is presented, as opportunities are exploited and challenges overcome.

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