弗吉尼亚州的无熔金属3D打印技术MELD Manufacturing已被选为美国陆军探险技术搜索的第一阶段，XTechSearch。
The proposal, submitted by MELD, is to use its technology for the maintenance and repair of military vehicles, fulfilling the XTechSearch Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) technology focus area.
“The MELD™ technology is ideal for combat vehicles,” explains MELD Additive Manufacturing Manager Dr. Chase Cox, “[…] it enables the use of unweldable metals and can create, join, coat, or repair a wide range of novel metallic materials that offer superior strength and corrosion resistance without adding weight.”
All the things laser can’t do
Meld Manufacturing于2018年4月正式推出了市场。一种新型的添加剂制造技术, integrated into a machine called the B8.
In contrast to other metal additive techniques such as selective laser melting (SLM), the MELD technique is a solid-state process that “makes the material malleable without melting.”
根据1991年在英国焊接研究所（TWI）发明的小说搅拌焊接过程，MELD的过程非常适合高层，近网状形状的金属沉积。
仅由公司的CEO Nanci Hardwickin an interview for 3D Printing Industry, “MELD can do all the things laser can’t do.”
Ideal for the battlefield
2018年还标志着陆军的第一个XTECHSEARCH计划。它的成立是为了帮助军方与即将到来的技术保持联系，并“加强与企业家资助的社区，小型企业和其他非传统辩护伙伴的交战”。
In Phase 1, applicants were requested to submit a white paper of their concept,与陆军助理部长有关收购，物流和技术概述的技术重点领域有关的一个或选择。
MELD的申请是为NGCV的该地区提供的，作为开发替换坦克和步兵战车的技术，并以重量，维持和每单位储蓄的成本储蓄。
Cox博士解释说：“ MELD™机器不需要实验室环境进行操作，并且非常可扩展，使其非常适合在战场上实施。能够在剧院中修复零件或制造零件既可以提高效率并节省时间和金钱。”
As one of 125 winners of Phase 1, MELD receives $1,000 in prize money and is invited to participate in Phase II:xTechSearch Technology Pitches.在此阶段，该公司将被邀请到陆军和国防部的一个面板面对面。
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特色图像显示了向前操作基础上融合添加剂生产维修的概念图。通过融合制造图像
