Department of Defense Additive Manufacturing Strategy
Abstract
Technology is changing how systems are manufactured and how production information and data is managed. This digital manufacturing revolution has far-reaching implications for the Department of Defense (DoD) and the defense industrial base. Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a "process of joining materials to make parts from 3D model data, usually layer by layer." AM creates the part and material at the same time. This improves production speed and flexibility, but requires careful control of the AM process. AM can be used to: build parts that cannot be made any other way; uniquely combine materials; produce obsolete parts; rapidly prototype; create tools and specialized job aids. AM is a powerful tool to enable innovation and modernization of defense systems, support readiness and enhance warfighter readiness. AM is a form of digital manufacturing relying on 3D models and simulations to produce custom solutions. To take the lead in digital manufacturing, the United States will develop standards for digital manufacturing products and processes as well as for the digital environment needed to manage and secure them, as outlined in the Department of Defense's Digital Engineering Strategy. The transformation of the engineering process from design-build-test to a model-analyze-build methodology is enabled by the rapid prototyping and unique manufacturing capabilities of AM.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1120846
Entities
Organizations
- Office Of The Under Secretary Of Defense