AML3D Launches Series 3D Printing of Spare Parts with ARCEMY X at Newport News Shipyard

Australian metal 3D printing company AML3D has announced that its first two ARCEMY X systems have been commissioned at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS). Seen as an important milestone for the operational use of spare-part 3D printing technology in the defense and maritime industries, this step paves the way for large-scale metal parts to be produced directly on the shipyard site.

ARCEMY X: Large-Part Production with Wire DED Technology

AML3D’s ARCEMY X series uses wire-based directed energy deposition (DED) technology. This wire-fed system makes it possible to produce larger parts faster and at lower cost compared to traditional metal powder-bed systems. Especially in sectors such as defense and maritime, producing custom-sized spare parts and prototypes on demand eliminates bottlenecks in the supply chain. Thanks to ARCEMY X’s closed-loop control system, repeatable quality and industrial-grade surface finish can be achieved.

Newport News Shipbuilding, as one of the U.S. Navy’s largest shipyards, handles the construction and maintenance of aircraft carriers and submarines. Commissioning ARCEMY X systems at this facility can cut the procurement process for critical, large metal components from weeks down to days. In defense logistics, this kind of transformation lowers inventory costs while boosting operational readiness. A similar approach can also be seen in the on-demand production of industrial machine spare parts with FDM.

The Expanding Field of Use for Industrial 3D Printing

Metal 3D printing has long been tested across many industries, particularly defense and aerospace. However, integrating large-format systems like ARCEMY X into series production facilities marks a new threshold in the technology’s transition from the prototype stage to production scale. In the same way, FDM technology has evolved over the years from a hobby scale to industrial manufacturing, becoming the standard for prototype and functional part production. Today, FDM parts produced with engineering-grade materials offer an alternative to traditional manufacturing methods in many applications.

AML3D’s move once again demonstrates the operational advantages of additive manufacturing in spare-part production. At logistically challenging locations such as shipyards, mining sites, and energy plants, fast on-site production of critical parts delivers major savings. If you too would like to explore producing prototypes or spare parts for your industrial equipment with a 3D printing service, you can produce functional parts from engineering materials using FDM technology.

The Future of 3D Printing in the Defense Industry

The AML3D-NNS partnership shows that additive manufacturing has become a strategic tool in the defense industry. While such developments increase interest in defense 3D printing solutions, they also remind smaller businesses and individual users of the opportunities offered by FDM-based production. Companies needing low-volume prototypes and functional parts can benefit from this technology by working with external service providers, without making large investments.

Although metal 3D printing requires significant investment, FDM filament printing offers a far more accessible alternative for prototyping and low-volume functional part production. You can order your spare parts with complex geometries online by instantly calculating the price, and receive them in 1 business day. For detailed pricing, you can review our transparent per-gram price list.