Metallic 3D printing agency Velo3D introduced that it has partnered with Ohio Ordnance Works (OOW), a Class III arms producer. The corporate makes the REAPR machine gun and SAW, BAR, and M2 variants, in addition to associated elements. OOW has authorities contracts for simulation weapons, cartridge receivers, and weapons. The corporate additionally has two coveted Indefinite Supply Automobiles (IDVs): one is an Different Transaction Settlement (OTA) from the U.S. Particular Operations Command for $2,592,021 whereas the opposite is a 5-year, $26 million cope with Military Contracting Command for cartridge receivers.
The thriving cartridge receiver enterprise might allude to some unit someplace altering the caliber of present weapons. OOW additionally has IP on conversion kits to show weapons into semi computerized weapons. Maybe individuals are utilizing the M2 as a sniper platform, lengthening the service lifetime of an present platform such because the SAW, or attempting to informally mount the SAW to a car to make a technical. Or maybe somebody needs to iron out some points with the SCAR or one other platform, perhaps making it prepared for suppressors?
Velo3D CEO Arun Jeldi mentioned,
“We’re excited to collaborate with Ohio Ordnance Works on this essential protection initiative. By our utility engineering, additive design, and evaluation companies, we’re supporting OOW within the improvement part to make sure that their elements are optimized for 3D printing. This partnership permits us to assist OOW streamline their design course of, improve efficiency, and in the end meet the demanding wants of the protection sector.”
Robert Landies III, President of Ohio Ordnance Works, said,
“At Ohio Ordnance Works, we’re dedicated to delivering the highest-quality navy elements to our protection companions. By partnering with Velo3D, we are able to leverage their experience in utility engineering and design for additive manufacturing to optimize our design processes and make sure that we’re producing components with the precision, pace, and high quality our navy prospects count on.”
Velo3D will assist OOW with utility improvement, engineering, and design for 3D printed weapons elements, so it could possibly make present weapons elements utilizing additive. OOW additionally needs to create a Fast Manufacturing Companies providing utilizing additive expertise. This makes numerous sense since it will let OOW rapidly produce stopgap options to points with present weapons. It could additionally let OOW adapt weapons to new situations. As an illustration, if the navy wants a gun that may shoot down drones from the again of a Hilux, then OOW might develop it rapidly. If there’s a brand new kind of thermal imaging unit discovering troops too rapidly, then silencers might be upgraded.
The corporate believes that, “this collaboration represents an vital step ahead in integrating additive manufacturing into protection methods, offering OOW with the power to enhance the design and testing phases of their navy weapons improvement, whereas additionally rushing up the manufacturing course of.”
The plain factor to contemplate listed here are suppressors. Suppressors are an enormous development space for additive. With cheap thermal imaging and cheaper sound sensors, suppressors have gotten a necessity, and never simply one thing that some troopers use sometimes. The SAS, Delta, SEAL groups, Secret Service, and different specialised models all use 3D printed suppressors now; that in and of itself will drive adoption globally. However extra broadly, an arms producer that has a mastery of 3D printing will do properly. 3D printed barrels are solely a query of time, and there are a lot of different weapons elements that may be tailored, improved, and upgraded. In Afghanistan, the REP fast manufacturing capability confirmed how 3D printed SAW tripods might make the weapon extra helpful and versatile. In future wars, there can be many conditions like this the place equipment gained’t work, or must work higher, and can must be upgraded. OOW additionally sells to international governments, and would have have to adapt US weapons to native specs and munitions as properly.
The US has numerous navy gear, but it surely can not predict the long run. A flexible design and manufacturing capability might make OOW an even bigger provider for exigent components. If OOW turns into the go-to metallic 3D printing home for SOCOM, and even some armorers throughout the SOCOM group, the credibility, advertising worth, and learnings from the cutting-edge could possibly be immense. The way forward for some weapons, and future wants from the broader military, could possibly be divined, new merchandise could possibly be created, and numerous weapons could possibly be bought with a wink to the individuals leaping out of plane. Strategically, this is a wonderful transfer for OOW and places them within the driving seat for future improvised weapons packages.
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