Navy Installs First Permanent 3D Metal Printer On Warship

For the first time, the U.S. Navy has permanently installed a metal 3D printer onboard one of its warships, reports Breaking Defense.

Installation of the printer on the amphibious ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) was completed on Nov. 4, the service said.

The 4,700-pound (2,131-kg) printer is 6.5 feet (2 m) tall; 5 feet 8 inches (1.7 m) long; and 8 feet (2.4 m) wide.

The printer is expected to primarily produce auxiliary parts for larger systems, such as exterior hand wheels on various valves, which it can do faster and cheaper than ordering from Navy stocks elsewhere.

Before a part can be 3D printed, it must be approved by Naval Sea Systems Command. The command has already approved 320 polymer parts and is working to identify appropriate parts to be produced by metal printers, said Navy officials.