As the usage of 3D printing becomes increasingly mainstream, more and more industries are beginning to integrate it into their processes. One of these is the United States Army and Military which as of recent has taken advantage of 3D printing and its many benefits in order to advance their missions and duties in an efficient way. 

Here are 4 ways how the military and army has begun using 3D printing to great results. 

To Construct Barracks

Barracks play a very important role in the military, but constructing them can be difficult and take long periods of time. Thanks to 3D printing, however, that process got much simpler. Last September, the US Marine Corps Systems Command used 3D printing to create a prototype concrete barrack at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Champaign, Illinois. According to New Atlas, the barrack was constructed in just two days. The barrack was 500 sq. ft in size and clearly showed how 3D printing will be incredibly useful going forward. 

To Create Essential Motor Parts

While 3D printing a 500 sq. ft barrack is a big deal, the army is also using 3D printing for smaller tasks. For instance, in Korea, the army uses Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles that include fire extinguisher nozzles that blow off when fire is detected. These vehicles are essential to the army’s survival and safety on mine-invested territory. But one issue that the army began to face was in regards to the caps on the fire extinguishers nozzles that would blow off when they were in use. 

According to the U.S. Army’s website, each vehicle utilizes 20 of these caps. Without them, the vehicle is unusable. But the wait time to construct and order new ones is lengthy: an estimated five months! With 3D printing, however, the army was able to construct these at a must faster rate and at an affordable cost of $2.50 a piece. 

Both the military and army have been using 3D printing to create other small parts essential to everyday missions and success, like the fire extinguisher caps. 

To Make Repairments and Print Parts

3D printing is not only useful to print new parts, but also to repair broken ones. Mike Nikodinovski, a mechanical engineer and additive expert with the Army’s Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, explained in an interview that the army has begun using 3D printing to do just that, which increases efficiency in repairing and readiness. 

Printing Surveillance Submarines

Underwater surveillance is essential to the Navy’s safety, as well as our own. And to do this, they use many small surveillance submarines. Why couldn’t 3D printing be used to make them as well? The US Navy’s Disruptive Technology Lab teamed up with the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility to do this, printing a submarine that was 9.1m long. 

The process, of course, saved the Navy much time and money. While the initial version was not able to go underwater and perform task perfectly, it showed how 3D printing could aid in the construct of submarines in the future once more kinks were worked out. 

Pushing the military and army towards the future

It’s no surprise that the military and army have taken such a liking to 3D printing: Their work must always be forward-thinking and preventive, and 3D printing falls right in line with that. As they continue trying out the process of 3D printing, it will be no surprise if it becomes integral to their missions in the future.