3D Systems (3DS) has been awarded two contracts with the U.S. Air Force to develop advanced manufacturing 3D printing capabilities. The $1 million contracts are funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFL) and administered by America Makes and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute.

The agreements will use the company’s selective laser sintering (SLS) and direct metal 3D printing portfolio to meet USAF’s advanced manufacturing roadmap.

In the first contract, the company will partner with University of Delaware’s Center for Composite Manufacturing (UDCCM), Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMCO) and Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) to integrate predictive technologies with its SLS 3D printers to monitor parts at the layer level during the manufacturing process.

In the second contract, the Applied Research Laboratory of Pennsylvania State University in partnership with Honeywell International and Northrop Grumman will work to leverage 3DS’ technology to enable aerospace and defense manufacturers to have complete control of all aspects of the direct metal manufacturing at the layer level.

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