{"id":34248,"date":"2020-02-04T18:37:43","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T18:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/02\/04\/us-army-developing-process-for-using-3d-printing-at-depots-and-in-the-field\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:47:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:47:05","slug":"us-army-developing-process-for-using-3d-printing-at-depots-and-in-the-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2020\/02\/04\/us-army-developing-process-for-using-3d-printing-at-depots-and-in-the-field\/","title":{"rendered":"US Army developing process for using 3D printing at depots and in the field"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Army has an overarching concept <\/a>for how it wants to use 3D printing and subtractive manufacturing<\/a>, but now it must develop a process for using the capabilities across the service from arsenals, depots and plants, and then down to the tactical level, said Gen. Gus Perna, the head of Army Materiel Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army has dabbled in 3D printing \u2014 also known as additive manufacturing \u2014 at an expeditionary level with mobile trailers<\/a>, and it has used 3D printers to produce polymers for critical replacement parts like plastic caps. In subtractive manufacturing, products are typically made by cutting out sections of material using a computer numerical control machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But as the technology evolves, the service is working to codify a means to effectively use the capability across the force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army secretary adopted an advanced manufacturing policy in October 2019 that does just that and enhances the supply chain in the field and at maintenance depots, Perna told Defense News in a statement in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So a policy is in place to move forward, an executive order is under development to support execution, and the Army purchased equipment and established the Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois. Now the next step it to develop a process, Perna told reporters at a Feb. 4. Defense Writers Group event in Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At this point, the plan is to make Rock Island \u201cthe hub\u201d of additive manufacturing capability and then selectively choose capabilities to reside at the 25 other various depots, plants and arsenals, Perna said. The Army has invested roughly $25 million in equipment at the hub. According to Perna, that has filled roughly a quarter of a warehouse at Rock Island, which he\u2019d like to see reach capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service has delivered capability to the remaining depots, arsenals and plants, but \u201cwe\u2019ve got ink spots here, we are not there yet. We are working on that,\u201d Perna said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t