Manufacturing & Prototyping
3D Printing & Additive Manufacturing
Latest Stories
INSIDER Design
Active Strake System Cuts Cruise Drag, Boosts Flight Efficiency
For decades, aircraft have carried a fundamental compromise between their engines and wing flow interactions by using strakes. These are small fins attached at the sides of...
INSIDER Defense
Additive Manufacturing Lab Boosts Operational Readiness for Legacy Air Force Aircraft
A small team at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, is using cutting-edge additive manufacturing technology to...
Briefs Materials
Next Generation Carbon Fiber Composites 3D Printer for Hypersonic Research
In collaboration with Auburn University’s Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, the institute recently acquired a CF3D Enterprise Cell — a next-generation 3D carbon fiber composites printer set to define the future of the nation’s hypersonic programs. Read on to learn more.
INSIDER Defense
Meeting the Demands of Defense Production and Sustainment Through Additive Manufacturing
When a chilled water pump failed aboard a U.S. guided missile destroyer, maintainers ran into an all-too-familiar problem. The six-blade cooling rotor...
INSIDER Materials
How Airbus is Using w-DED to 3D Print Larger Titanium Airplane Parts
Airbus is using wire‑directed energy deposition (w‑DED) to 3D print titanium aircraft parts at much larger scales than earlier additive manufacturing methods allowed....
Podcasts Manufacturing & Prototyping
SAE Automotive Engineering Podcast: Additive Manufacturing
To help pass the time during your commute or while working around the house or in the garage, we've launched the SAE Automotive Engineering podcast.
INSIDER Defense
New 3D-Printable Nanocomposite Prevents Overheating in Military Electronics
U.S. Army and university researchers collaborated to develop a 3D-printable material using tiny particles that conduct heat and can be used to more efficiently cool...
INSIDER Manufacturing & Prototyping
APFIT Invests $50 Million into US-Made Drone Battery Production for Air Force, Army, Navy, and SOCOM
The Defense Department’s APFIT program has committed up to $50 million to Packet Digital to fast-track production of advanced batteries...
Podcasts Defense
A New Additive Manufacturing Accelerator for the U.S. Navy in Guam
On this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast we examine the technical and strategic foundations behind Guam’s new advanced manufacturing hub. Neal Orringer of ASTRO America and Alex Benham of GAMMA are the guests to discuss the facility’s additive manufacturing capabilities, supply-chain objectives, and workforce development plans. Listen now!
INSIDER Design
DESCAM Project to Establish Additive Manufacturing Supply Chain for Flight-Ready Parts
GKN Aerospace has joined the Digitally Enabled Competitive & Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (DECSAM) project.
INSIDER Defense
A New Solid Rocket Motor Facility for Lockheed Martin and Raytheon
Avio, the Italian space propulsion manufacturer, recently announced separate deals with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon to establish a new solid rocket motor (SRM) production...
INSIDER Design
AUSA 2025: Secretary Driscoll Wants Army to Save Time and Money by 3D-Printing Replacement Parts
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll's brutally honest keynote speech to open AUSA's 2025 annual meeting included a focus on how much money the...
INSIDER Manufacturing & Prototyping
In-Flight 3D Printing of Drone Parts on a Black Hawk Helicopter
The Indiana Army National Guard, in collaboration with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, achieved a historic milestone during August's...
Articles Manufacturing & Prototyping
Nadcap at 35 Still Defining Excellence in Aviation, Defense and Space Manufacturing
Celebrating its 35th year, the National Aerospace Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (Nadcap) continues to advance quality assurance and regulatory compliance for aviation, defense, and space OEMs and suppliers. This article summarizes how Nadcap accreditation works, its benefits for manufacturers, and its role in expanding additive manufacturing through industry-wide consensus.
INSIDER Aerospace
Can Neutrons Improve 3D-Printing of Aluminum Aerospace Components?
How can particularly light yet extremely resilient aluminum components for aerospace be manufactured using industrial 3D printing?
INSIDER RF & Microwave Electronics
Boeing's New Approach to 3D Printing Solar Arrays for Satellites
Boeing has unveiled a 3D‑printed solar array substrate approach that compresses composite build times by up to six months on a typical solar array wing program from print to...
INSIDER Manned Systems
GKN Expands Production Line for Additive Fabrication of A220 Engine Component
GKN Aerospace announced the expansion of its Newington, Connecticut facility, bringing a new production line dedicated to additive fabrication of the Fan Case...
INSIDER Manned Systems
Air Force Supports Development of Large Format Metal 3D Printer Demonstrator
3D Systems will continue its development of large format metal 3D printing technology under a new $7.65 million contract awarded by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to...
Articles Mechanical & Fluid Systems
Redefining Modern US Navy Shipbuilding with Additive Manufacturing
For suppliers, embracing AM isn’t just about swapping out tools; it’s about rethinking the entire design process. Working to understand and prepare for AM-driven design and qualification changes is necessary to remain competitive in future U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs. This article will explain how new standards are driving qualification, supporting U.S. Navy construction goals and fleet readiness.
INSIDER Aerospace
Australian Researchers Create Stronger, Cheaper 3D-Printed Titanium Alloy
Engineers from RMIT University — based in Melbourn, Australia — have produced a new type of 3D-printed titanium that’s about a third cheaper than commonly used...
Articles Aerospace
Reclaiming Readiness: Advancing US Defense Through Scalable Additive Manufacturing
It is critical to demonstrate that the United States can readily maintain its defense capabilities even if current conventional supply chains break down or critical manufacturing hubs come under threat. This is where advanced manufacturing in general and additive manufacturing (AM) specifically stands out not as a futuristic technology promise, but as a practical and proven production solution that directly supports our defense industrial base and mission assurance. Read on to learn more.
Q&A Aerospace
Lyten Says 3D Graphene Could Disrupt Racing, Automotive and Space
Lyten is best-known as the developer of next-gen lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology. But new work on 3D Graphene means Lyten is branching out into motorsports with...
Briefs Manufacturing & Prototyping
New Laser Technique Revolutionizes Ultra-High Ceramic Manufacturing for Spacecraft
A new technique that leverages the concept of sintering, can be used to create ceramic coatings, tiles or complex three-dimensional structures, which allows for increased versatility when engineering new devices and technologies. Read on to learn more about it.
Briefs Aerospace
A Twist in Topology Optimization Leads to High-Performing Heat Exchanger
By combining topology optimization and additive manufacturing, a team of University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers created a twisty high-temperature heat exchanger that outperformed a traditional straight channel design in heat transfer, power density and effectiveness. Read on to learn more.
News Energy
Bosch Invested in Large-Scale Metal 3D Printing
Bosch bolstered its 3D printing capabilities when it added a new metal 3D printer at its Nuremberg, Germany, plant earlier this year. The NXG XII 600 metal 3D printer from Nikon SLM Solutions...
INSIDER Manufacturing & Prototyping
Reclaiming Readiness: Advancing US Defense Through Scalable Additive Manufacturing
The nature of defense readiness is being reformed and redefined. Not only are our weapon systems being made increasingly advanced and sophisticated, but the...
INSIDER Unmanned Systems
3D-Printing Trainer Drones and Munitions Leads to Cost Savings for Misawa Exercise
The Innovation Lab at Misawa Air Base in Japan is helping Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams across the Indo-Pacific train smarter, faster and cheaper...
Briefs Defense
Lasers Destroy Drones as Additive Manufacturing Builds Them
In February, the Joint Interagency Field Experimentation team at the Naval Postgraduate School executed another highly collaborative week of rapid prototyping and defense demonstrations with dozens of emerging technology companies. Read on to learn more about it.
Articles Unmanned Systems
3D Printing Parts for Ships, Submarines and Underwater Vehicles
Additive manufacturing has been a game-changer in helping to create parts and equipment for the Department of Defense’s industrial base. A naval facility in Washington state has become a leader in implementing additive manufacturing and repair technologies using various processes and materials to quickly create much-needed parts for submarines and ships. Read on to learn more.
Top Stories
INSIDERWearables
A Next Generation Helmet System for Navy Pilots
INSIDERWeapons Systems
New Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Agreements Expand Missile Defense Production
NewsAutomotive
Ford Announces 48-Volt Architecture for Future Electric Truck
INSIDERAerospace
Active Strake System Cuts Cruise Drag, Boosts Flight Efficiency
ArticlesTransportation
Accelerating Down the Road to Autonomy
NewsUnmanned Systems
Microvision Aquires Luminar, Plans Relationship Restoration, Multi-industry Push
Webcasts
Electronics & Computers
Cooling a New Generation of Aerospace and Defense Embedded...
Power
Battery Abuse Testing: Pushing to Failure
Communications
A FREE Two-Day Event Dedicated to Connected Mobility
Unmanned Systems
Quiet, Please: NVH Improvement Opportunities in the Early Design Cycle
Transportation
Advantages of Smart Power Distribution Unit Design for Automotive &...
Aerospace
Sesame Solar's Nanogrid Tech Promises Major Gains in Drone Endurance