The huge demand in the military industry has largely promoted the development of the 3D printing industry.
December 4, 2024 According to the Resource Library, Lockheed Martin recently built a new 16,000 square foot additive manufacturing facility in Texas. The facility will support production of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
The new factory is equipped with a large-scale laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) 3D printer and is equipped with heat treatment and inspection equipment for the rapid production of 3D printed metal parts. By expanding its additive manufacturing capabilities, Lockheed Martin aims to meet current and future customer needs and advance the development of 3D printing technology in the defense and aerospace sectors. Additive manufacturing not only increases supply chain capacity, but also helps strengthen the domestic industrial base in the United States.
The new factory is also part of Lockheed Martin’s 1LMX digital transformation plan, which uses artificial intelligence and automation technology to optimize production and supply chains. Using additive manufacturing technology, the company not only improves product performance, but also shortens development and delivery cycles and reduces material waste.
Additive manufacturing also allows Lockheed Martin to produce complex parts not possible with traditional methods. Hydraulic manifolds, for example, can use additive manufacturing to achieve more complex geometries, improving performance and reducing weight. In fact, Lockheed Martin’s expansion into additive manufacturing is not new. The company has joined the AM Forward program and is working with several major companies to promote the application of 3D printing technology to strengthen supply chain security in the United States.
As early as 2018, Lockheed Martin 3D printed a titanium cover to cover satellite fuel tanks. The metal cover measured 3.8 feet (1.2 meters) wide and 4 inches (10 centimeters) thick, making it the largest 3D printed space at the time. parts.
In 2022, Lockheed Martin’s aerospace division collaborated with SWISSto12 and CAES (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions) to use 3D printing technology to manufacture the phased array antennas needed for future satellite missions. After recognizing the importance of 3D printing in satellite manufacturing, Lockheed Martin also spent $450 million to acquire Terran Orbital to further promote the mass production of 3D printed satellite components.
In addition, Lockheed Martin has also led investments in a number of 3D printing companies, including: a US$3 million investment to support Q5D’s robotic arm and hybrid additive manufacturing system to produce beams of cables; an investment of US$12.5 million to support Q5D; specializing in 3D printing drones Firestorm Labs, a California company; and Fortify, a supplier that invests in the development of additive manufacturing processes and materials for radio frequency (RF) equipment.
This year, the company also used 3D printing technology to produce key components of the Mako hypersonic missile, significantly increasing production speed and reducing costs.
Looking ahead, Lockheed Martin said additive manufacturing will be an important part of the company’s product development. With the continued development of technology, the company plans to replace traditional manufacturing processes with 3D printing to achieve higher production efficiency, cost savings and part integration, thereby further improving the safety of the supply chain and ensuring a response to increasingly complex global security threats.
Lockheed Martin’s additive manufacturing expansion not only demonstrates its defense strategy, but also reflects the North American trend of widespread adoption of additive manufacturing technology in the supply of critical defense components. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has invested heavily in additive manufacturing technology, with the Pentagon’s annual budget request for missiles, munitions procurement and related research and development increasing from $9 billion in 2015 to 30 .6 billion dollars in 2024. This also shows that defense needs drive the development of the additive manufacturing industry to a large extent.
