Toward the Printed World: Additive Manufacturing and Implications for National Security (Defense Horizons, Number 73)

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) - commonly referred to as "three-dimensional" or "3D" printing - is a prospective game changer with implications and opportunities that affect not just the Department of Defense (DOD) but the economy as a whole. The technology allows the "art to part" fabrication of complex objects from a computer model without part-specific tooling or human intervention. AM has already impacted a variety of industries and has the potential to present legal and economic issues with its strong economic and health-care benefits. Because of its remarkable ability to produce a wide variety of objects, AM also can have significant national security implications. The purpose of this paper is to provide a general introduction to these issues for nontechnical readers through a survey of the recent history and the current state of technology. Included in this paper is a brief review identifying key individuals and organizations shaping developments as well as projected trends.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA577162

Entities

People

  • Connor M. Mcnulty
  • Neyla Arnas
  • Thomas A. Campbell

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Assembly
  • Commerce
  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Construction
  • Fabrication
  • Fused Deposition Modeling
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Intellectual Property
  • Manufacturing
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Medical Personnel
  • National Security
  • Printing
  • Security

Readers

  • Economics
  • Manufacturing Engineering.
  • Systems Analysis and Design