Additive manufacturing

The Pentagon recently issued a report on additive manufacturing (AM).

AM, "which includes the commonly used term '3D printing,' is a rapidly growing and changing discipline," the report notes, adding:

While the technology and associated processes have been used for several decades, AM is rapidly advancing in capability and expanding in applications, increasing the potential impact of this technology. Significant investments are being made, in both the private and public sector, in developing AM technologies for applications ranging from prototypes to mass-produced end-items, from tooling to custom medical implants. Each of the Department of Defense (DoD) components and agencies are investing in AM technologies, desiring to utilize and mature AM in order to affect the entire DoD 5000.02 defined acquisition lifecycle: from enabling new products to reducing logistics and sustainment costs. The commercial and defense industries are also investing in maturing AM for multiple applications and there is a significant international investment in the technology. According to the 2016 Wohler's Report, the worldwide AM market in 2015 was $5.17B. However, much of this investment is being directed at proprietary and specific applications, resulting in duplication of efforts, customized data sets and ultimately slower adoption of the technology across the industry. It is therefore imperative that DoD investment in AM be broadly coordinated throughout its organizations and informed by broader government and industry initiatives in order to ensure rapid adoption.

Read the full report here.