The Dutch Navy is based on 3D printing technology

affiliate 3D printer–the creator INTAMSYS explains in a user report how the Dutch Navy is using 3D printing technology.

Amplifier mounts

the majority fffConsumer 3D printers cannot print mounts that can support exceptionally heavy weights. common strings Such as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Section Rugged enough for prototyping and light applications, yet much stronger Material Required to ensure high performance in the heat and humidity of Suriname.

During military exercises in South America, crew members needed braces for a 20kg signal booster that could be placed near the top of a 25m mast. This will avoid the use of long cables and boost the signal from the antenna on top of the mast. Since they didn’t have any arcs with them, the crew used an INTAMSYS printer to fabricate the arcs from PEKK-CF, a high-performance material that requires a high-temperature 3D printer with extrusion temperatures of at least 350 degrees Celsius. Weaker materials can flex under heavy weight and will not be safe to use.

valve gears

On board a marine ship or submarine there are a large number of valves used to regulate the pressure and flow of fluids. These valves regulate, among other things, the flow of fresh water, ballast water, and fluids for hydraulic systems. The valves are equipped with wheels that allow manual adjustment and these valve wheels are removed periodically for cleaning and maintenance. However, they sometimes break or get lost, so ships have to carry spare parts.

Because there are so many different types and sizes of valve wheels, the DMI staff used INTAMSYS 3D printers to custom manufacture the wheels, rather than carrying a large number of off-the-shelf aluminum/steel parts on board. Printed from high-strength material, the valve wheels will not overheat and can last for a long time; Some are even permanently installed.

Orthodontics

Ships and engines aren’t the only things that require maintenance on long missions. Crew members can sustain minor and major injuries when deployed, and ships are not always within reach of a medical center.

The additive specialists at DMI are working with Radboud University Medical Center (part of Radboud University Nijmegen) on a research project to develop custom orthoses. Using a mobile 3D-scanning app developed by Belgian company Spentys, technicians can design and 3D-print an orthotic to treat minor injuries. A variety of materials can be used including PEKK, ABS, and sThe stiffness of the orthotic can be changed over time using adjustable straps while the injury heals.

You can learn more about INTAMSYS here.

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