Tag Archives: federal
Top 3D Printing News Last Week: 3D Printed Gun, US Government, 3DLT
3D Printing News
A roundup of the top 3D printing news from May 7 to May 11:
Tuesday, May 7
- 3DLT Launches at TechCrunch Disrupt After Challenging Past
- Video: Cody Wilson of Defense Distributed Launches 3D Printed Gun
Thursday, May 9
Saturday, May 11
Obama Announces $200 Million Program for 3D Printing and Innovation
President Obama Sees 3D Printed Future
The White House has announced a new program to create three new manufacturing innovation institutes, funding it with $200 million from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Commerce, NASA, and the National Science Foundation. 3D printing is a key focus of the program.
Back in February, Obama called 3D printing a “revolutionary” technology in his State of the Union address, describing NAMII, the recipient of a $30 million Federal grant as “a once-shuttered warehouse [and] now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.”
Why 3D Printing?
In the White House press release, some example uses of 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, are presented.
The Department of Defense envisions customizing parts on site for operational systems that would otherwise be expensive to make or ship. The Department of Energy anticipates that additive processes would be able to save more than 50% energy use compared to today’s ‘subtractive’ manufacturing processes.
Read the full announcement at whitehouse.gov.
