SPEE3D will use its CSAM technology to produce on-demand parts for a NAVSEA maritime project, the company said.
The XSPEE3D Printer from SPEE3D. (Photo: Business Wire)
MELBOURNE, Australia—Metal additive manufacturing company SPEE3D reported that the U.S. Navy has chosen its metal cold spray additive manufacturing (CSAM) technology to develop materials as part of a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) project related to Expeditionary Maintenance and Sustainment. SPEE3D was chosen to develop materials that achieve Submarine Safety Program (SUBSAFE) quality standards, the company said in a release.
The company said it was subcontracted through the Applied Research Laboratory of the Pennsylvania State University (ARL/PSU), a leading NAVSEA partner in cold spray technology development and transition.
The partnership is reported to mark the first time a cold spray additive manufacturing technology will be investigated as a manufacturing method for SUBSAFE-compliant applications. Working together, the U.S. Navy, ARL/PSU, and SPEE3D will develop an entirely new method to rapidly manufacture existing parts for use in critical submarine systems.
SUBSAFE is a U.S. Navy quality assurance program designed to ensure the safety of its submarine fleet. All work done and materials used on those systems are tightly controlled to ensure that the material used in their assembly, and the methods of assembly, maintenance, and testing, are correct. The U.S. Navy and ARL/PSU are investigating SPEE3D’s CSAM technology to determine if it meets the rigorous engineering, quality, and safety requirements with the benefit of rapid part production, the company said.
SPEE3D said that its capabilities enable submarine parts to be manufactured in hours, instead of months, with a proven technology that has been tested extensively by the U.S., UK, and Australian militaries. In addition, SPEE3D is platform-agnostic and can manufacture a variety of metals, including aluminum 6061, aluminum bronze, and copper.
“We are honored to be chosen and trusted by the U.S. Navy to participate in this groundbreaking project,” said Steven Camilleri, co-Founder and CTO at SPEE3D, in the release. “We have worked successfully with the U.S. Navy in the past and understand the unique challenges they face with the need for manufacturing capabilities that are fast, reliable, and easily deployable.”