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| Photo Credit Flickr : 621st Contingency Response Wing |
The new industrial revolution of 3D printing is already making itself a reality for some professionals. US soldiers around the world have used additive manufacturing and 3D printing to develop immediate solutions to problems that traditionally would have taken years. Contracts for new parts or upgraded devices can take years to work their way through the vast bureaucracy that controls defense spending. The Army’s Expeditionary Lab Mobile (ELM) can skip that process with their mobile engineering and production.
An article in the National Defense Magazine talks about one use of the ELM tech that solved a seemingly basic problem. Flashlights issued to soldiers had a power button that was prone to accidental activation. This is a problem that could give away a position or more commonly drain batteries leaving the user without any light. ELM designed and fabricated “a plastic guard that clips over the end of the flashlight, preventing accidental activation of the power switch”.
Other mentioned uses include the creation of thousands of adapters for USB charging devices. Given the remote location and inherent supply chain issues 3D printing was not only an elegant solution but arguably the most economical. These types of items are one of the reasons why President Obama made mention of 3D Printing and NAMII in his State Of The Union. No doubt this is only the beginning of what will become a whole new approach to manufacturing and development for an increasing number of parts and devices.