Login
iscover
The US Marine Corps has announced the first successful in-flight demonstration of 3D printing in a US military aircraft.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Military personnel were able to 3D print a medical cast aboard an MV-22 Osprey multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 164 during a training flight near Twentynine Palms, California on 21 June.
The printed medical cast is part of an operational demonstration provided by the Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) at the Naval Postgraduate School.
CAMRE program manager Chris Curran said the successful test of in-flight additive manufacturing represents a capability which could prove vital for rapid response during any contested logistics scenario.
“We are in a unique position to rapidly support the joint force and accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing,” he said.
“This is just one of many events we are committing resources to where we share our research and deliver equipment and know-how to servicemembers.”
During the test, the team began with a 3D scan of a Marine’s arm, which was used to create a drawing of a medical cast assisted by generative design software.
The cast was then printed while the Osprey was engaged in multiple ground and flight modes, including taxi, take-off, and in-flight manoeuvres during an integrated training exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms from 10 to 22 June.
The Advanced Manufacturing Operational System was developed by Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific engineer Spencer Koroly in San Diego. The 3D printer demonstration builds on successful operational demonstrations including the first deployment of a 3D liquid metal printer aboard USS Essex during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise in 2022.
“I see this as revolutionary, being able to print on the move,” Koroly said.
“Nothing is more expeditionary than printing medical devices and swarm robotics in the back of an aircraft.”
