ABSTRACT
A quick review of recent publications and announcements indicate that there are several additive manufacturing activities going on in various defense-related industries around the world. Of particular interest are the leading-edge initiatives going on at the United States (US) Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the US Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), Ohio, US. AFIT, collocated with AFRL at Wright–Patterson Air Force Base , is an internationally-recognized leader for defense-focused technical graduate and continuing education, research, and consultation. The graduate degrees offered by AFIT are predicated on thesis and dissertation research. It is through this research and development avenues that new additive manufacturing initiatives are being pursued at AFIT. Traditional manufacturing relies on tools and techniques developed over several decades of making products. Additive manufacturing, popularly known as 3D printing, brings the efforts to a new level of possibilities.
