Melbourne cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) machinery manufacturer SPEE3D has successfully participated in Annual US Marines Corps Integrated Training Exercise 4-23 (ITX), printing on-demand parts in the field to support critical defense operations.
The event was a live-fire exercise combining infantry, artillery, aircraft, combat logistics, and all the supporting elements to train battalion and squadron-sized units in the tactical application of combined-arms manoeuver and offensive and defensive operations during combat.
SPEE3D was the only additive manufacturing company to have the opportunity to participate in this event alongside US Defense.
During ITX, on their social media, social media, CAMRE document their successful manufacturing of a baseplate using WarpSPEE3D (pictured).
This base plate was then used to lift a 22,000lb Humvee vehicle shortly after being manufactured and post-processed in the field, demonstrating how SPEE3D’s patented cold spray process can reliably produce complex, industrial-grade metal parts in hours, not weeks.
SPEE3D Americas VP of Defense Chris Harris said: “Our involvement in ITX 4-23 is yet another testament to our commitment to partnering with the military worldwide to provide the best outcomes for rapidly printing 3D metal parts where they are needed the most—near the warfighter.
“It’s an honour to be invited, and we look forward to working with the United States Marines Corps for future training events.”
ITX involved a series of progressive exercises that assessed the ability and adaptability of a force of more than 3,700 Marines and sailors over one month.
According to the company: “Our WarpSPEE3D was deployed to print crucial parts that were broken, brought from ground support at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, and then flown to the live fire Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.
“In the last few years, US, UK, and Australian militaries have consistently demonstrated the expeditionary point-of-need capabilities of our technology for defense operations, exampled in numerous military field trials, providing reliable evidence of our technology’s robust metal manufacturing capabilities out in the field.”
Many of these organisations purchased their own SPEE3D printer following these trials, including most recently the British Army.
The Program Manager for the Consortium for Additive Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) Chris Curran said: “For two consecutive weeks during Integrated Training Exercise 4-23 with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, SPEE3D repeatedly demonstrated their ability to 3D print metal replacement parts, outdoors, in an expeditionary environment.
“What was impactful was their ability to produce parts in a matter of hours – not days – which could potentially offer warfighters and maintainers a competitive advantage in a contested environment.”
Picture: SPEE3D/US Army soldier does final post-processing for base plate manufactured with WarpSPEE3D for an armoured vehicle. Approved photo_use of this photo does not imply DODUSMC endorsement.
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