3D-printing solutions for the defence industry
Stratasys 3D printing in defence
Defence departments are turning to 3D printing to manufacture replacement parts for tanks, helicopters and other armoured vehicles.
3D printing allows for a rapid and cost-effective manufacturing process, which is ideal for defence applications where reliability and safety are critical. It also enables the production of complex parts that would have been difficult or impossible to create using traditional manufacturing methods.
Defence manufacturers have been using 3D printing technology for over 30 years but in recent years it has become more popular due to its low cost and ease of use. There are many benefits of additive manufacturing in the defence industry including reduced lead times, less waste and reduced energy consumption.
Print anywhere
Out in the field, in a lab or in the office – Stratasys additive manufacturing defence solutions allows you to print from anywhere in the world with easy connectivity with GrabCAD Print and GrabCAD Shop enabling you to manage your workflow, communicate with stakeholders, customers, designers and engineers, as well as manage print loads and print queues.
Performance parts on demand
Additive manufacturing has been increasingly used in the defence sector to produce high-quality, affordable parts quickly and efficiently.
Almost any shape or design can be created with 3D printing technology. This means that parts can be made to meet exact specifications, reducing the risk of defects and improving performance. The process also allows parts and components to be tailored to individual requirements, without the need to manufacture a large batch in advance.This makes additive manufacturing the most flexible process for making parts using 3D printing for the defence sector – and fast.
Digital inventories
Developing a digital inventory means parts can be made when you need them without taking space and material resources away from other uses. This makes it possible to build specific components for a specific aircraft without needing to store thousands of identical spares just in case one fails. In addition, making detailed 3D scans of existing components and building a “digital twin” enables engineers to model and simulate the behaviour of these components to identify potential weaknesses and improve reliability before they go into production. This can then be fed back into the design process to iterate and improve further with additional testing to validate the reliability of the component before it goes into manufacture.
Improved part quality
Owing to the wide range of composite materials available, stronger, light-weight parts are easy and quick to produce giving you the edge. Using advanced GrabCAD Print software combined with the full capabilities of Stratasys 3D printers, defence companies and institutions can create high quality parts with tight tolerances to meet stringent regulation and validate quality in the quality control process. Parts produced using AM are consistently better quality than those made using traditional manufacturing processes such as injection moulding and casting. Additive manufacturing in defence also means less finishing is required in post processing, cutting out additional delays.
Get in touch
Get in touch with an expert today. No matter if you want to explore the effects of 3D printing in defence or if you would like to discover the best 3D printers, we will help you get the information, insight and expertise you need.
Alternatively, you can find out about the specification, service and price of a printer today. We are here to help you get it right.
