Supernova, a carve-out of Spanish 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D, has launched a new business unit focused on 3D printing military-grade energetic materials. These compounds, commonly used in propellants and explosives, can rapidly release stored energy through chemical reactions.
Called Supernova Defense & Space, the business unit will build a proprietary additive manufacturing ecosystem for energetic materials. This will support critical applications like the production of Solid Rocket Motors (SRMs), which power hypersonic platforms such as missiles and space launch vehicles.
Supernova claims that its Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) process is the first additive manufacturing technology proven to 3D print military-grade energetic materials such as APCP and RDX. This is thanks to VLM’s ability to process formulations possessing over 88% solid load.
The business unit’s long-term vision is to expand the boundaries of manufacturing technologies for the defense and space sectors.
“Supernova Defense & Space represents our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to manufacture,” commented …