Army replacing broken vehicle parts by 3D printing them in the field for first time
The British Army is using cutting-edge 3D printers in the field for the first time to provide spare parts and important equipment for troops and vehicles.
During Nato's Exercise Steadfast Defender, members of 9 Theatre Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers have been using this new technology to replace damaged or missing components.
"Sometimes depending on where we are deployed, we can have the spares to be able to fix it quite quickly - but sometimes we can't do that," said the Commanding Officer of 9 Theatre Support Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel John Anthistle.
"We have some of the components inside for the engine, but there are some brackets both metal and plastic that we simply can't buy, can’t get and the spares system simply can't supply us for a number of weeks.
"The system we've got enables us to manufacture these components in both plastic and metal.
"Project Brokrr is the Army's first metal 3D manufacturing capability.
"When we know we need a component, if we don't already have it on file our operators then design it through computer-aided design, print off the shape and we then make sure it fits properly. Some of these shapes can be quite complex.
"Once we're happy with the design and we're happy that it fits, if it needs to be a metal we can then send it over to the Brokrr system.
"If plastics will do, we can again print it on the better plastics printing system."
Using computer-aided design, metal can now be printed in the field and used to make components.
A fine metal powder, such as copper, aluminium or steel, is fired through a nozzle in the printer at three times the speed of sound, as a mechanical arm shapes the component, building up the object one layer at a time.
Before fitting the new component to the vehicle, it is subjected to post-processing such as heat treating, milling and finishing.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This world-leading technology is another excellent example of how Britain is at the very forefront of innovation in defence, providing our exemplary Armed Forces with a faster way to respond flexibly in the field.
"The recent increase in defence spending is crucial to ensuring that our people have the right kit, at the right time.
"Examples like this demonstrate that we are leading the way in developing new technologies to empower our Armed Forces and give them what they need to defend our nation."
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