reprint from https://3dprintingindustry.com/ The Indian Navy has partnered with Indian 3D printing service bureau think3D to help produce spare parts on-demand using additive manufacturing, for both on and off-shore scenarios. The availability of spare parts has been a recurring problem for the Indian Navy due to the use of old, imported machinery. Collaborating with think3D, the Indian Navy has sought to solve this problem by instead 3D printing spare parts and replacing them on demand. think3D has supplied various 3D Printed spare parts to Indian Navy, all of which have been successfully tested and incorporated into its machinery. One particular case study that the company has shared revolves around the replacement of centrifugal pump impellers, key components for a ship’s operation, using 3D printing. The centrifugal pump impeller onboard Navy ships. Photo via think3D. The difficulty of sourcing spare parts for old machinery A large proportion of the machines present on the Navy’s ships are very old and imported from other countries. As such, sourcing spare parts for these machines whenever a component gets damaged can be a long process, with significant delays before a part is received. This can prove costly for the Navy as it keeps its machines idle [...]

A-dec is an Oregon-based manufacturer of dental equipment, including specialty chairs, delivery systems, medical lightning, and supplies. They are always looking to improve the ergonomics of designs since better ergonomics results in better care and experience for patients. A-dec was no stranger to 3D printing. They first adopted traditional 3D printers a decade ago, to assist in product development. However, due to limits on speed, strength, and detail, they were forced to outsource many of their prototypes. When they adopted HP’s full-color solution, they first used it for prototypes and quickly expanded to jigs, fixtures, and assembly aids. They were impressed with the improved surface quality, mechanical properties, and speed. But another important characteristic was the geometric tolerances, allowing assemblies to fit together accurately. Initially intended for only prototypes and tools, engineers began to see the machine’s potential for end-use parts. They started to make replacement parts for their subtractive machines. On older subtractive machines, replacement parts may not be available from the OEM, which requires costly outsourcing. This was also the case for a customer’s dental machine. The customer needed a replacement part for a 20-year-old dental unit. Previously made by vacuum forming, the tool to create this part had been destroyed [...]