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Military-spec filament produces stronger 3D-printed objects:
While consumer-grade 3D printers may be adequate for making things like models or curios, they're not always up to the task of creating objects that stand up to real-world use. That could be about to change, though, thanks to a new printing filament.
Compact, inexpensive 3D printers typically utilize a process known as fused filament fabrication (FFF). This involves heating a plastic filament to its melting point, then extruding it through a nozzle. Successive layers of the molten plastic are deposited one on top of the other, forming a single solid object as they cool and fuse together.
According to US Army engineers, though, items printed in this fashion tend to be too structurally weak for rough-and-tough use by soldiers in the field. This is a shame, since if troops were able to carry small, cheap 3D printers with them, they could make parts and tools onsite as needed. And although there are printers that use non-FFF techniques to produce stronger objects, those machines are large and costly, making them impractical for field use.
Led by Dr. Eric D. Wetzel, researchers from the Army's Emerging Composites team set out to address this problem. They ultimately created a new dual-polymer filament that allows consumer 3D printers to produce much stronger items, utilizing their existing FFF hardware.
Source: US Army Research Laboratory
Journal Reference:
Kevin R. Hart, Ryan M. Dunn, Eric D. Wetzel. Tough, Additively Manufactured Structures Fabricated with Dual‐Thermoplastic Filaments, Advanced Engineering Materials (DOI: 10.1002/adem.201901184)
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:23PM (3 children)
I just assume this isn't for "use in the field", not like GI Joe is going to lug this around on his back and then toss it down in some mud hut with a solar panel on the roof and launch AutoCAD on his Apple WarBook and print out some stuff, possibly death instruments to defeat Cobra again. But it might be nice to have at a FOB to print some spare or replacement parts. For some things it will be good enough and for others it might be good enough to last a few days or hours or what not which is better then not working at all. All until a proper part can be shipped out.
So which one is it? Robust enough after a few hours of curing/heat threating and survive and withstand the rigors of field operations or not? They are sending somewhat mixed signals here.
(Score: 2) by TheReaperD on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:05PM (2 children)
They're probably hedging their language so no one can say they made claim X. But, even if they can made a part that will last until a true replacement is shipped in, this would be of great use to the armed forces. It means that they can get equipment back in the field in hours instead of days and they don't have to haul around a ton of common spare parts for soldiers that 90% of the time they never need, but that 10% can kill a field op. A larger version might even be good for making one-shot munition casings such as LAW rocket tubes, claymore cases, etc.
For home use, this means minis that can take a beating. Not quite up to metal yet, but closer to polymer. For someone that doesn't obsessively put minis in cases or in foam packed tins, this would be a blessing.
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit
(Score: 2) by looorg on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:19PM (1 child)
Indeed. I guess that is why they are looking for civilian partners now I gather. Printing plastic components for home usage is great, mostly been used so far for covers, various plastic details, containers and boxes etc. They last until you can fix it with a real component or if not they are so cheap and quick to print that you can just make another one if it breaks. But if you could find some better material that will last longer that will be great, but then of cause there is a matter of price -- if I can print to many cheapo crap parts and just replace them and that will be cheaper it might be hard to justify this if the material turns out to be a lot more expensive.
(Score: 2) by TheReaperD on Friday August 28 2020, @09:55AM
It's also if the resulting structure, if broken, can be resealed by model cement or supper glue to great effect.
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit