Case studies
Learn what we’ve done, how we’ve done it, and how it helped our customers succeed.
Australian Army
The Defense Force that pioneered cold spray metal 3D printing in the field
Challenge
In February 2020, the Australian Army first announced a $1.5 million dollar investment into a 12-month pilot of SPEE3D’s high speed metal 3D printing technology, alongside CDU’s Advanced Manufacturing Alliance program. This pilot program addressed the need to use SPEE3D’s technology to significantly increase parts available to the Army compared to what the regular supply chain could provide.
Solution
The Australian Army deployed SPEE3D’s WarpSPEE3D metal 3D printing technology to conduct the first expeditionary metal 3D printing trials in 2020 and 2021.
The goal was to successfully demonstrate that the SPEE3D process could be taken into an expeditionary environment and be used by military personnel to manufacture metal parts in the field.
Results
Over two years, from part design using CAD and TwinSPEE3D software to printer operation, to part post-processing, and testing, Australian Army soldiers manufactured and produced over 50 genuine case studies for various tools and armoured vehicle parts that could be added to a future digital library.
The success of these trials demonstrated the printer’s deployable capabilities to the front line, as well as the operational ability of Defence to be able to manufacture metal 3D printed parts in minutes, on demand in remote environments.
For more information check out the Australian Army’s journey on our news page or download the full case study.
“Custom made parts, designed, and printed in the field, means we can provide the mechanism for our people to get equipment back into action quickly and return it to its primary role on the battlefield. It was great to see the team working together to think of new ways to use the 3D printer, it demonstrated the many hidden talents Australian soldiers possess.”
Lieutenant Colonel Kane Wright
2020 Commanding Officer of 1CSSB.
