[3D Printing Application] NAVAIR provides the Ultimaker 3D printer to the US military!

MatterHackers, a well-known 3D printer and materials retailer, has signed a five-year, $5 million military contract with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) for 3D printing . This is NAVAIR's largest military contract for desktop 3D printers to date, and will enable MatterHackers to deploy 75 Tier 1 additive manufacturing systems by 2025, including 3D printers and industrial-grade materials, along with ongoing training and personalized support.

As one of the largest Ultimaker resellers, MatterHackers considers the Ultimaker S5 3D printer to be the most suitable 3D printer for NAVAIR requirements, with its high production capacity, extensive NFC chip compatibility, IT security design, and integration with Ultimaker 's Cura software.

 

In addition to supplying NAVAIR with Ultimaker S5 3D printers and industrial-grade materials, MatterHackers will also provide hands-on training to each Navy and naval base that receives MatterHackers' Level 1 additive manufacturing system through its partner Building Momentum, and will provide follow-up training under a five-year contract.

This contract will place the Ultimaker S5 desktop polymer system into NAVSEA’s Fleet Readiness Center, Maritime Aviation Logistics Squadron and its associated expeditionary forces, giving soldiers the ability to print parts urgently.

Back in 2016, NAVAIR first 3D printed critical flight components for an aircraft and successfully flew it. A year later, NAVAIR requested its sister organization, the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), to use 3D printed life-saving components on the Goshawk training aircraft.

By 2018, approximately 1,000 3D-printed parts had been used throughout the military, 3D-printed antenna mounts had been developed for the U.S. Navy's MH-60S Seahawk helicopters, and investments had been made in Senvol, an additive manufacturing data specialist, to further develop its machine learning software to optimize 3D-printed parts and technologies.