America Makes, the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) have awarded $1.2 million to the winners of the Environmental Additive Research for Tomorrow’s Habitat (EARTH) project.
The project is being funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Research and Engineering Manufacturing Technology Office (OSD(R&E)), and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
Two teams have won the award, the topic of which is titled “Analysis of AM Sustainability and Environmental Benefits.”
The first winning team is being led by IC3D, Inc., and includes participation from 3Degrees, Harrisburg University, and The Ohio State University. The team’s project is titled “Accelerating Additive in Department of Defense (DoD) Applications of High-Performance Recycled Polymers.”
The second team is being led by Raytheon’sRTX Technology Research Center, and includes 6K Additive and The University of Arizona. This team is focusing on “Powder and Process Optimization for Sustainable Additive Manufacturing (POSAM).”
“There is the need to acknowledge the potential environmental impact of AM innovations within the manufacturing industry, even as it invests resources in research and development,” stated America Makes Technology Director Brandon Ribic.
“We applaud the efforts of the awardees in exploring sustainable approaches for reusing and recycling AM materials and designs. Their initiatives are expected to make a substantial contribution to reducing waste, conserving energy, and mitigating carbon emissions.”
The $1.2M EARTH project
Established in 2012, America Makes has the goal of bolstering the uptake of 3D printing across the USA in a bid to augment the nation’s international manufacturing competitiveness. One pivotal method employed by the institute to attain this is via project calls. These initiatives provide financial support to member institutions that propose innovative solutions to prevalent challenges in the 3D printing sector.
In the course of the previous year, America Makes has initiated and given awards to numerous projects. For instance, in July 2023, the institute declared a project call valued at $11.7 million aimed at amplifying additive manufacturing productivity. Earlier in the month, six recipients of an open additive manufacturing project call, valued at $1.2 million were unveiled.
The EARTH project revolves around sustainable practices in additive manufacturing, with a focus on promoting recycling and reuse of 3D printing materials.
The award winners will now play a key role in identifying and validating additive manufacturing designs and materials that meet the necessary sustainability-related qualifications and performance standards for end users.
During the execution phase of the programme, the teams will report on their progress at the America Makes Technical Review and Exchange, as well as during other industry events.
“The forward-thinking of our industry partners demonstrates a commitment to understanding sustainable AM practices which will influence future adoption of the technology in a variety of sectors,” added Ribic.
The America Makes building in Youngstown, Ohio. Photo via America Makes.
Sustainability and additive manufacturing
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