PortolanBearings Network · FreeAdditive Manufacturing
Materials TechnologyAdditive manufacturing (3D printing) builds parts layer by layer from metals, polymers, or composites — enabling on- demand production and geometries not producible by machining.
Additive manufacturing (AM) covers a family of layer-by-layer part fabrication processes: powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, binder jetting, and fused deposition. In defense contexts, AM enables three distinct benefits: geometries impossible with subtractive machining (heat exchangers, rocket engine components), rapid prototyping and short-run production for spares and small-lot fielding, and forward-deployed production of parts near the point of need. Naval sustainment (submarine spare parts, forward fleet support) has been an early adopter. The industrial base spans established primes (GE Additive, Lockheed), pure-play AM firms (Velo3D, VulcanForms, Divergent, 3D Systems), and a growing tail of DoD-facing service providers.