Rize
Woburn, MA
www.rize3d.com

Headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, The United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) is the primary research and development group for the US Army’s armament and munitions systems. The ARDEC team works on advanced materials and technologies with a focus on material properties. This effort led ARDEC to expand into additive manufacturing (AM), specifically to identify the types of materials that can be used in AM equipment to meet the needs of the US Army.

With approximately 25 3D printers in their lab — ranging from small, $500 hobby-class desktop machines to large, $500,000+ industrial-class additive manufacturing equipment — ARDEC is always looking for the latest equipment to test and use for their unique applications in the field, where soldiers need spare parts and custom tools on demand. For functional use in the field, 3D printers must be easy and safe enough for soldiers to operate on temporary or permanent field bases, and able to withstand the rigors of various and sometimes harsh environmental conditions. The materials must also be safe, given the strict storage and disposal regulations of many countries around the world. The parts must also meet performance requirements.

Rize additive manufacturing systems were chosen by the AMTB team (Advanced Materials & Technology Branch) within ARDEC for their unique hybrid Augmented Deposition process that enables the simultaneous extrusion of engineering-grade thermoplastic and the jetting of functional inks from print heads for traceability. The Rize machines also require minimal post-processing after printing — an advantage in regions where water resources can’t be wasted for post-processing parts.

AMTB’s Rize One 3D printer is used to produce spare parts such as robot wheels and vehicle parts. Soft-skin Humvee window knobs and handles break off easily, preventing soldiers from getting in and out of the vehicle. They needed a way to quickly and easily manufacture new ones on the fly. The original knobs were reverse-engineered and printed on Rize One. Previously, they were printed using extrusion technology but the parts needed to soak in a caustic solvent for four to six hours following printing before they could be used. Using Rize One, the parts are available for installation immediately after printing. This amounts to a savings of up to six hours per part, which can mean the difference between getting the part in one day versus two days.

ARDEC also uses Rize One to produce a wide range of tools needed in the field; for example, 55-gallon drums are used to store chemicals. Unaware that there is a specific tool for removing the drum cap, new soldiers often try to use whatever is handy such as screwdrivers and other sharp instruments that can cause them injury and destroy the cap. A replica was reverse-engineered using SolidWorks software; ARDEC printed the tool with Rize One, enabling easy and safe removal of the cap. If the tool is misplaced or left behind during a move, a new one can quickly and easily be printed on the fly in less than one day.

Another tool that ARDEC prints with Rize One is a generator wrench that is easily lost during moves. Using 3D scanners, they reverse-engineered the wrench and printed electrically neutral replacements on demand with Rize One.

Rize One is also used for mission-critical applications including forward grips that mount to the picatinny rail on rifles. ARDEC downloads the publicly available files, customizes them as needed, and prints them on Rize One. Soldiers prefer the unique and custom rifle grips and having ARDEC produce them with Rize One enhances their performance.

Rize’s digitally augmented parts add traceability and an extra layer of confidence in the Army’s 3D-printed parts. This capability is used to embed serial numbers and QR codes into parts that create a secure digital thread back to the ARDEC database for detailed part information such as the printer operator, operator training, print parameters, room conditions, part specifications and use, and much more.

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