#United States #Fremont #Additive Manufacturing #Velo3D #Ratheon Technologies

Velo3D Engages in Transformative Collaboration with U.S. Army

In an ambitious move to enhance the United States' defense capabilities, Velo3D, Inc., a leading player in additive manufacturing technology and publicly traded on Nasdaq as VELO, has initiated collaboration with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation Missile Center (DEVCOM AvMC) and the Manufacturing Sustainment (MS) program. This partnership aims to advance the process of high-throughput additive manufacturing specifically for Aluminum CP1, a critical need for defense applications.

Background of the Initiative

Velo3D's participation in this initiative underscores its commitment to revolutionizing aerospace and defense supply chains. By optimizing the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process for Aluminum CP1, Velo3D aims to address key priorities of the U.S. Army, including agility, affordability, and operational readiness. This effort reflects the Army’s ongoing strategic focus on enhancing its logistical infrastructure through cutting-edge technology and manufacturing techniques.

Key Developments

As part of this groundbreaking cooperation, Velo3D will utilize its large-format additive manufacturing technology to establish a repeatable and scalable process across various programs and facilities. According to Velo3D’s CEO, Dr. Arun Jeldi, the selection of their metal additive manufacturing platform stems from its ability to surmount traditional constraints inherent in legacy L-PBF systems. The integration of advanced software and hardware components provides a holistic approach—encompassing factory tool matching, in-situ monitoring, standardized process parameters, and centralized data systems—leading to more consistent outcomes across different manufacturing settings.

Lee Barber, the Additive Manufacturing Materials Lead at RTX, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing that additive manufacturing is crucial to constructing a resilient defense supply chain. This initiative not only bridges the gap between government and industry efforts but also reinforces the importance of scalable and repeatable production processes, thus ensuring effective and swift support for military forces.

Establishing New Standards

This forward-thinking project seeks to implement an Installation and Operational Qualification (IQ/OQ) framework that modernizes and replaces outdated qualification methods previously used. By laying the groundwork for a distributed manufacturing model, this initiative will facilitate a more agile supply chain across the Department of Defense and its partner ecosystem.

This strategic collaboration reflects the Army's commitment to bolstering the domestic industrial base through partnerships that are aligned with mission objectives and that advance manufacturing capabilities to meet the evolving needs of the warfighter.

The Role of Velo3D in Advanced Manufacturing

Velo3D’s innovative metal 3D printing technology is transforming how high-value metal components are produced. Despite the limitations that traditional metal additive manufacturing technologies have imposed over the past three decades, Velo3D has pushed the boundaries of what is achievable. This transition has unlocked new levels of design freedom and has enabled engineers in critical sectors such as space exploration, aviation, power generation, and semiconductor manufacturing to innovate significantly. By using Velo3D’s solutions, clients can now effectively manufacture mission-critical metal components that were once deemed unfeasible.

The company’s comprehensive offerings include the Flow print preparation software, the Sapphire printer series, and the Assure quality control system, which collectively enhance the manufacturing process through Velo3D’s Intelligent Fusion technique. Since delivering the first Sapphire system in 2018, Velo3D has gained recognition from prestigious players in the industry, including SpaceX, Honeywell, Honda, Chromalloy, and Lam Research.

Conclusion

In summary, Velo3D’s partnership with the U.S. Army and RTX marks a significant step forward in redefining manufacturing standards for defense applications. As they work together to push the limits of additive manufacturing with Aluminum CP1, this initiative promises to enhance the operational capabilities of the military while fostering innovation within the broader industrial sector. Velo3D’s leading-edge technology is poised to contribute increasingly vital roles across various high-stakes industries in the future.

For more information about Velo3D and its advanced manufacturing solutions, visit Velo3D.com.