Army allowing commanders to approve 3D-printed parts for faster repairs - Breaking Defense

Actually, that's not needed. You can actually 3D print many metal types including stainless steel, aluminum, titanium and more!

The Aerospace sector in industry (i.e., Boeing, LM, etc.) and government (notably NASA) have been 3D printing metal parts for decades.

COL Randall C. I was thinking for the larger pieces. Gears, wheels, replacements for damaged panels.

LTC Trent Klug - Decades ago, support maintenance units had machinists and equipment to fabricate parts -- then we chose to eliminate most of that capability and rely entirely on the manufacturers and the civilian industry supply chain. This is one small step in the right direction.

LTC Trent Klug - it will mainly depend on what type of 3D printer they will have access to. There are industrial 3D printers that can print a metal part up to 19'x4'x4', but I would speculate that the typical division wouldn't have access to one of those.

I would expect something at a division would be in the range of a $50k-$100k printer and those would be able to manufacture parts on scale of <1' per side.