Phase II Amount
$12,314,326
Additive manufacturing has delivered enormous advantages in rapidly producing prototype designs for both the industrial and military sectors. However, the true promise of transitioning from prototype to production of essential 3D printed components using high-performance materials has remained untenable. The High Speed Extrusion (HSE) process developed by Essentium flips this longstanding paradigm with a 3D printing platform created specifically for manufacturing at scale. Essentium has demonstrated the ability to forge three key elements: materials, process, and machine into a unified technology platform to serve as the machine tool of 3D printing. The HSE printer is built on the skeleton of automated semiconductor processing robotics, and uses linear motor technology, giving it speed and precision unmatched by any other motion platform on the market. Combined with a revolutionary extrusion head system, the HSE is capable of production speeds 5-10X current generation 3D printers, with the widest material portfolio. This Phase II project will identify components critical to the support of USAF resources, including ground support systems, service components, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) equipment, and demonstrate the ability to 3D print these components on-site and on-demand with verified digital build files.
