3D Systems has received an additional $9 million from the U.S. Air Force to continue development of its large-format metal 3D printing platform, the company announced August 10. The award extends the Air Force-funded "Large-Format Metal 3D Printer Advanced Technology Demonstrator" program, built around the GEN-II DMP-1000 printer, by two years and brings total Air Force investment in the effort to $27.4 million.
The contract marks the next planned phase of a program 3D Systems has run since 2023, focused on large-scale, high-temperature, high-speed metal 3D printing for flight-relevant parts. Development and testing continue at the company's facilities in San Diego, California, and Rock Hill, South Carolina, with this phase intended to complete the technology demonstration effort. What's new here is the emphasis on scale: the DMP-1000 program targets printing flight-critical components at sizes and speeds that push past what most direct metal laser sintering systems handle economically.
Dr. Michael Shepard, vice president of aerospace and defense at 3D Systems, said the new funding "reflects the U.S. Air Force's continued confidence in our technology, its development path, and our teams." Shepard said the platform has come together and that the company expects to bring on additional partners to test new applications as it matures.
The award comes three years into a demonstration program the Air Force has funded in successive phases rather than a single upfront contract, tying continued funding to the system hitting technical milestones. 3D Systems has not disclosed a timeline for when the GEN-II DMP-1000 platform might move beyond demonstration into production use on Air Force programs.
