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3 Ways the Royal Netherlands Navy is Using INTAMSYS 3D Printers

The Royal Netherlands Navy and 3D Printing

3D printing is becoming an increasingly key technology for the Royal Netherlands Navy. With the INTAMSYS 3D printing of parts on frigates, they will be less dependent on complex logistics operations.

They have been using the FUNMAT PRO 410 for parts printing. It supports fire resistance and strong materials, also can withstand temperatures up to 150°C without issue.

Customer's Experience

In 2022, the Navy has revealed how it continues to use INTAMSYS printers for a variety of tasks, including printing replacement parts in high-performance materials like PEKK-CF. Here are three notable ways the Royal Netherlands Navy deployed the FFF 3D printers to support on-land troops during a military exercise in Suriname.

They went for INTAMSYS and received their FUNMAT PRO 610HT in June 2021. Since the purchase of the printer, they have printed many prototypes, some end-use parts, and from time to time jigs/fixtures and tooling parts.

As the printer has a high chamber temperature (up to 300°C), it also means that all temperatures in between are covered too. 4D Concepts has printed out parts of many plastic types; from PLA, ABS, PC, to PAEK, PEEK, PEI 9085/1010.

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4D Concepts – prototype of a temperature-resistant pulley made of glass-fiber reinforced PEEK (PEEK-GF).

 

We accompany our customers in a professional manner throughout the entire project - from planning and design to the prototype or the production of a complete series. Combining our 3D printing processes with conventional component processing, post-processing and surface refinement of the prototypes, small series or even a trade fair exhibit is our daily business. Since the company was founded in 1995, our experienced team in Gross-Gerau has made a name for itself well beyond the borders of the Rhine-Main area. We are one of the leading service providers for everything to do with 3D printing and have more than satisfied customers from a wide variety of industries - from the automotive and consumer goods industries to mechanical engineering and companies from the medical technology sector.

Alex Di Maglie
Managing Director,  4D Concepts

The most important features are to me the automatic reloading system in the filament chambers (when the spool is empty it goes automatically to the next chamber), the high-performance dual nozzles (500°C) and that the printer is an Open System. It allows us to choose the right material for our customers’ applications.

Tom Neumann
Application Engineer,  4D Concepts

The application of high-end filaments made of high-performance plastics such as PEI is not new to the field of 3D Printing. However, it requires both, a wide range of skills (materials and production) and the appropriate machinery.

Thanks to its large-format 3D printer from INTAMSYS, 4D Concepts can now process a wide range of high-end plastics with excellent thermal and mechanical properties for prototyping. Parts are out of PEI 9085.
 

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Amplifier Brackets

Most consumer-level FFF 3D printers cannot print brackets capable of supporting exceptionally heavy weights. Common filaments like PLA and ABS are durable enough for prototypes and low-impact applications, but it takes a much stronger material to guarantee high performance in the heat and humidity of Suriname.

During a military exercise in South America, crew members needed brackets to support a 20 kg signal amplifier so it could be mounted near the top of a 25-meter pole. This placement reduced the need for long cables and boosted the antenna signal. Without the necessary brackets on hand, the crew used an INTAMSYS printer to create them out of PEKK-CF, a high-performance material requiring extrusion temperatures of at least 350°C. Weaker materials would have buckled under the heavy weight and compromised safety.

Valve Wheels

A naval ship or submarine contains numerous valves for regulating pressure and fluid flows, controlling everything from fresh water to hydraulic systems. These valves have wheels that allow manual adjustments and are regularly removed for cleaning and maintenance. However, they sometimes break or get lost, necessitating spares.

Due to the diversity in valve wheel types and sizes, DMI workers have been using their INTAMSYS 3D printers to fabricate wheels on demand rather than carrying numerous prefabricated aluminum/steel spares. Valve wheels printed in high-strength materials are durable, resistant to overheating, and can even be installed permanently.

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custom orthotics

Orthotics

Ships and machines aren’t the only things that require maintenance on long missions. Crew members can suffer injuries in the field, and ships aren’t always within reach of a medical center.

DMI’s additive specialists have been collaborating with Radboud University Medical Center on a research project to develop custom orthotics. Using a mobile 3D scanning application developed by Belgian company Spentys, technicians can design and 3D print custom-fit orthotics to treat minor injuries. A variety of materials can be used, including PEKK, ABS, and PP. The devices can be adjusted over time with straps as the injury heals.

4D Concept uses FUNMAT PRO 610HT

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By leveraging the advanced capabilities of INTAMSYS 3D printers, the Royal Netherlands Navy is enhancing operational efficiency, flexibility, and responsiveness in various scenarios.

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