America Makes and NCDMM have launched two project calls with funding from the Department of Defense. With a total of $14.5 million, they aim to solve the bottlenecks slowing the adoption of 3D printing in the defense sector. The goal is to create a more agile and reliable manufacturing ecosystem to accelerate the delivery of critical parts.
Delta Qual 2.0 and GOTHAAM: Standardization and Material Data 🎯
The Delta Qual 2.0 initiative, with $9 million, focuses on streamlining part certification. This involves improving machine calibration standards, establishing more flexible process parameters, and creating a team of experts to transfer the findings. The second, GOTHAAM, with $5.5 million, will qualify a high-strength aluminum alloy for 3D printing, generating the standardized material property data needed for its use in defense and aerospace platforms.
Finally, a Serious Instruction Manual for 3D Printing 📖
It seems the industry has decided it's finally time to move past the let's print this and see what happens phase. With these projects, perhaps we can leave behind the era of artisanal qualification, where each part required its own validation ritual and an act of faith. Now it's time to have parameters that don't depend on the machine's mood on a Tuesday morning. A small step for standards, a giant leap for military logistics.