Australian Army Pushes Metal 3D Printing to Extremes in Latest Field Trial

Building on the success of its field trial in June this year, a WarpSPEE3D 3D metal printer has again deployed and been put through its paces by the Australian Army during a two-week field exercise in the extreme heat and humidity of the Northern Territory.

WarpSPEE3D is a large-format metal 3D printer that uses cold spray technology to enable faster and more cost-effective metal part production, its developer, SPEE3D, says. The printer is capable of printing large metal parts up to 40 kg at a speed of 100 g per minute.

The printer arrived in Darwin in early June and forms the backbone of the Army's developing 3D printing capability.

Having received a number of upgrades and modifications in the two months since its first deployment, the WarpSPEE3D print cell deployed, as part of 1 CSSB's larger Brigade Support Group, to various field locations in temperatures up to 38 degrees C and 80% humidity, while printing and machining genuine military metal parts.

SPEE3D printers' process harnesses the power of kinetic energy, rather than relying on high-power lasers and expensive gasses, allowing 3D metal printing in the field.

The Australian Army announced a $1.5 million investment in a pilot of SPEE3D technology in February 2020 with a 12-month trial designed to test the feasibility of deploying 3D metal printers on-base and in the field. SPEE3D partnered with the Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (AMA) and Charles Darwin University (CDU) to deliver the program with soldiers from the Australian Army's 1st Brigade training in 3D printing at CDU since February.

The program aims to increase parts available to the Army compared to what the regular supply chain can provide.

“This second field deployment proves our technology is a genuine solution for expeditionary metal 3D printing,” says SPEE3D CEO Byron Kennedy. “This two-week trial demonstrates the WarpSPEE3D is a robust workhorse that is capable of printing real parts and solving real problems in the field. It also proves that soldiers can take control of the whole workflow of creating the spare parts they need, from design to printing and post-processing, right here where they need them.”

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.