The US Navy has managed to make the hull of a submarine in just a few weeks through 3D printing. According to the developers, this offers huge opportunities for the military.
The idea of printing weapons or vehicles sounds like science fiction but is something the military is already busy working on. Developed by a team from the Naval Surface Warfare Centre (NSWC) and Carderock Division's Disruptive Technology Laboratory (DTL), the 3D printed submarine has been named Optionally Manned Technology Demonstrater (OMTD).
Industrial printer
A large industrial 3D printer called Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM), based in the US state of Tennessee, was used to print the object. In doing so, the team created the largest 3D printed asset for the Navy ever: a proof-of-concept hull print for the Optinally Manned Technology Demonstrator (OMTD). The team started working on it in August 2016, using the large 3D printer to make six carbon fibre parts. Those parts were then assembled, giving shape to the proof-of-concept. The team was given four weeks to develop the fuselage, with the first week dedicated to design and starting printing the components from the second week.
The OMTD test article is 30 feet long and based on the Mark 8 Mod 1 Seal Delivery Vehicle (SDV) currently in service. This is a manned submarine that delivers Seals and equipment for special operations. "A vehicle like the SDV costs around $800,000 and five months to produce," said Garry Shields, instigator of the project and director of DTL. "Our proof of concept is 90 per cent cheaper and produced within a few days. A significant win for the army; this means that replacement parts or specially designed equipment can be made and commissioned quickly."
Capabilities
Shields continued: "We asked ourselves whether by doing everything differently we would get different results. We think we have shown with this that this way of manufacturing is a game changer for the military."
OMTD is not currently operational or testable in the water. According to its creators, this version only shows what is possible and THAT it is possible.
"The ultimate vision of this system is to create vehicles with modular energy and data systems. It will be deployed for as long as needed and then modified for the next mission. This is not just any 3D-printed vehicle: it has been created by several potential technologies and existing technologies coming together into one great working vehicle. That bodes well for the future."
The team received a NAVSEA Commanders Award for Innovation for their work and are now making plans to print a second, waterproof version of the submarine.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: US Navy
