U.S. Navy Uses Liquid Metal Jetting on Ship
ElemX 3D printer generates high-strength aluminum alloy parts on USS San Diego.
Aluminum 6061 parts printed with the ElemX on the USS San Diego. Image courtesy of ADDiTEC.
October 25, 2024
The U.S. Navy has successfully used ADDiTEC’s liquid metal jetting (LMJ) technology to produce functional parts on a ported ship. LMJ technology is made for high-strength aluminum alloys such as Al-6061, according to ADDiTEC.
Navy sailors printed essential parts using a containerized ElemX 3D printer on the USS San Diego at port in San Diego, according to ADDiTEC. The printed parts were evaluated for quality and performance, with results indicating that the components were acceptable and fully functional for intended applications.
“We are thrilled with the performance of the ElemX 3D printer,” says Garth Hobson, director of the Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing, Research and Education, at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. “The ease of use and the quality of the printed parts exceeded our expectations. This technology represents a significant enhancement in our ability to maintain and repair equipment while at sea.”
LMJ technology uses molten metal droplets to create additive parts. According to ADDiTEC, the process exploits the properties of liquid metals to create high-resolution parts without the post-processing used in powder-based metal 3D printing. The technology uses a custom software suite and monitoring system to deposit molten metal droplets in patterns, making it compatible with standard materials, such as Al-4008 and AL-6061.
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our 3D printing technologies meets the specific needs of maritime operations, and we are working to continuously enhance their reliability and efficiency, ensuring they are fully mission-ready for any operational demands.” says Brian Mathews, ADDiTEC’s CEO. “Seeing our efforts come to fruition with the successful printing of functional parts at sea is incredibly rewarding. We remain dedicated to our ongoing collaboration with the Navy, focusing on advancing LMJ technology within our innovative new Hybrid Series, which seamlessly integrates both additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities into a single machine.”
Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.
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