这University of Maine（Umaine）3D在其高级结构和复合材料中心打印了两艘新的大型船，其中一艘是有史以来最大的船只，其中一艘是添加性生产的最大船只。
为此开发U.S. Marine Corps, the prototype boats are designed to be logistical support vessels and will be tested for field use by the armed forces. The larger one can carry two 20-foot shipping containers, while the other can transport an entire rifle squad with three days’ worth of food, water, and other supplies.
为了纪念船只的完成，Umaine于2月25日举行了仪式。与会者包括该州参议员，共和党人苏珊·柯林斯（Susan Collins）和独立的安格斯·金（Angus King），以及国防部（国防部）的代表。
“The University of Maine is at the forefront of cutting-edge research and high-impact technologies, including advanced manufacturing, AI, and 3D printing important for industries in Maine and beyond,” said Dannel Malloy, UMaine’s System Chancellor. “These prototype vessels are the latest innovations from the Composites Center that demonstrate the future of manufacturing.”
这re are currently no public photos, videos, or technical details of the boats due to national security concerns.
Umaine打破了自己的记录
UMaine prides itself on being home to the world’s largest polymer 3D printing system. Developed byIngersoll Machine Tools, the extrusion-based printer was built specifically for defense and infrastructure applications, and can be used to print objects as long as 100ft, 22ft wide, and 10ft high.
Back in 2019,Umaine使用其3D打印机制造3Dirigo, which was at the time the world’s largest 3D printed boat as well as the world’s largest 3D printed object. Measuring 25 feet long and weighing in at 5,000 pounds, the vessel was printed in 72 hours. With its latest project, UMaine has now broken its own Guinness World Records.
Malloy补充说：“两年前，我们证明了3D在三天内打印25英尺的巡逻船。从那时起，与DOD合作，我们一直在改善材料属性，加快打印过程，并将打印机与可以监视打印的高性能计算机连接。有了这些工具，我们现在已经打印了一艘将由美国海军陆战队测试的原型船。”
More recently, UMaine also secured $2.8 million in funding from theU.S. Department of Energy（DOE）开发一种更环保的方法3D printing wind turbine blade molds。By introducing a bio-based feedstock into their Cellulose Nanofiber (CNF) printing process, the team believes that it’s possible to cut the costs of producing the large-format parts by 50%.
UMaine has also previouslypresented two novel 3D printed flood barriersto a U.S. Senate transport resiliency subcommittee. Built by the Advanced Structures and Composites Center, the bio-based barriers are designed to protect coastal infrastructure from flood-related damage.
Two new 3D printed logistical support vessels
两种新容器均使用基于聚合物的纤维增强复合材料的多物质混合物打印3D。根据Umaine的说法，它能够在短短一个月内制造和组装其中一艘船，否则该过程将使用传统的制造方法最多需要一年。
While the prototype boats are intended to be fully functional on their own, they can also be connected to form a single-tow raft for maximum transport capacity.
现在，他们已经准备好开放水，将船只从Umaine实验室运到加利福尼亚，在那里他们将在海中进行测试。该大学将原型交给了海军陆战队的高级制造业务单元，该工厂成立于2019年，旨在通过新的先进生产技术，测试，实验和分析来支持海军陆战队。
国防部希望使用3D打印的船只来满足其对小型物流车的需求，从而实现了分布式海事和远征运营。
Lt. Gen. Edward Banta, Deputy Commandant – Installation & Logistics, U.S. Marine Corps, concludes, “This project demonstrates the art of the possible and the potential for additive manufacturing to fundamentally alter how we think about connectors and their role in mobility and distribution within a contested environment.”
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Featured image shows UMaine celebrating the completion of the boats with a ceremony in late Feb. Photo via UMaine.
