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The following article is sourced from the Blue Ocean Star Think Tank, authored by Fang Nan. The 3D printing technology on ships can quickly produce parts on demand, enhancing maritime logistics capabilities and reducing the burden on the Navy’s supply chain. Currently, the US Navy has completed feasibility verification of 3D printing technology on ships and has deployed 3D printing equipment on 12 vessels, successfully manufacturing various polymer components for satellite communication systems, small drones, and more.
1. Background of Development
During naval operations, ships typically need to carry a large number of spare parts for timely replacement of damaged components. The procurement of spare parts usually takes several months, and a shortage of spare parts can affect the normal operation of related equipment and even the entire ship.3D printing technology exhibits significant advantages in rapid manufacturing, customizing special parts, and reducing manufacturing costs. Therefore, the US Navy has envisioned installing 3D printing equipment on ships since 2014 to quickly produce spare parts, small drones, and even soldiers’ knee braces, thereby enhancing combat readiness.Compared to shore-based manufacturing, 3D printing on ships must consider the unique marine climate and the impact of ship navigation, imposing new requirements on material safety, equipment stability, and operational specifications.First, the 3D printing materials must meet the fire resistance, smoke concentration, and toxicity standards for marine materials. Additionally, to maintain the stability of the printing equipment, detailed installation manuals must be developed to guide crew members in correctly installing the 3D printers, as well as developing vibration-damping equipment to avoid disruptions in the orderly deposition of materials due to the ship’s navigation, thus affecting the reliability of the printed parts.To promote the widespread application of 3D printing technology on ships, the US Navy has continuously released several regulatory plans and initiated research projects related to 3D printing.In May 2017, the US Navy released the “Navy 3D Printing Implementation Plan 2.0”, which established milestone nodes and a demonstration verification roadmap for 3D printing, proposing to achieve on-board 3D printing of metal parts after the fiscal year 2021.In 2018, the Naval Systems Command issued the “3D Printing Technology Usage Guidelines”, which proposed the T9070-AK-DPC-010/078-l specifications, providing clear regulations on the fire resistance, smoke concentration, and toxicity of 3D printing polymer materials, and established installation guidelines for on-board 3D printing equipment.Currently, the US Navy has achieved on-board 3D printing of polymer components and is exploring the on-board manufacturing of metal components.
2. Application Status
In March 2014, the US Navy installed 3D printing equipment for the first time on the LHD-2 “Essex” amphibious assault ship, producing a small number of polymer components to verify their operational stability under conditions of engine vibration and waves. Subsequently, the US Navy successively installed 3D printing equipment on various vessels such as the LHD-1 and SSN 774 for testing.
Figure 1 Small drone assembled on boardStarting in 2019, the Navy established on-board “Small Manufacturing Laboratories” (FABLAB) and “Advanced Manufacturing Laboratories” (AML) to deploy 3D printing equipment. Currently, 12 vessels, including amphibious ships, aircraft carriers, and submarines, have the capability for on-board 3D printing, enabling the rapid production of polymer parts within a few days.
Figure 2 3D printer on the CVN-74 “Stennis” aircraft carrier
3. Conclusion
The 3D printing technology on ships can reduce the number of spare parts carried during deployments, lower procurement costs and cycles, better meet on-board support needs, and enhance combat readiness.
