DARPA Launches Initiative to Improve Understanding of 3D-Printing Materials and Processes
- BY Sandra Helsel
- Jun 1, 2015
- 1 min read
Source: http://inside3dprinting.com/
(DARPA) — DARPA has announced a new initiative under its open manufacturing program, which seeks to improve the understanding of the various materials and processes involved in additive manufacturing and other new manufacturing techniques. With this initiative, DARPA has set up two new manufacturing demonstration facilities. The first facility is located at Penn State University and focuses solely on metal additive manufacturing, while the other is at the Army Research Laboratory and focuses on bonded composite materials.
The MDFs are charged with investigating new rapid qualification technologies that they hope will change the way companies qualify 3D-printed parts as well as parts produced with other new innovative techniques. DARPA explains on its website that current shortcomings involving a lack of understanding related to “subtle differences in additive manufacturing methods on the properties and capabilities of resulting materials” need to be overcome.
