3D Systems and Pennsylvania State University will research and develop direct metal printing technology at the Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D), The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA’s) demonstration facility for additive manufacturing technology. In addition to DARPA, the facility is also a major section of the Department of Defense network of university research centers that support the aerospace and defense industries.

Metal part printed using the 3D Systems ProX DMP 3D printer.The team will include direct metal printing experts from both organizations working to further develop the 3D Systems ProX Direct Metal Printing (DMP) technology. The partnership was created to develop high-resolution direct metal printing and to train U.S. defense and aerospace companies on the technology. As a result of the work, DARPA and other government agencies (such as the Navy, Air Force and America Makes) will be able to sponsor defense contractor projects that require the use of DMP technologies.

The team is currently working with the Air Force to incorporate DMP technology into the manufacturing workflow of Honeywell Aerospace, for the production and rapid qualifying of 3D printed metal parts and to integrate quality control monitoring equipment for 3D printed metal parts on the production lines of both Honeywell and Northrop Grumman. Similar programs will be implemented at other development and production centers for projects sponsored by the Navy.

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