Lockheed Martin 3D Printed a 4 ft Diameter Titanium Dome

I came across this article regarding Lockheed Martin's use of 3D printing. I thought it's pretty cool to hear how this technology is being used by more conservative manufacturers. The article can be found here:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/lockheed-martin-3d-printing/

From the article:

“Our largest 3D printed parts to date show we’re committed to a future where we produce satellites twice as fast and at half the cost,” said Rick Ambrose, Lockheed Martin Space executive vice president. “And we’re pushing forward for even better results. For example, we shaved off 87 percent of the schedule to build the domes, reducing the total delivery timeline from two years to three months.”

3D printing for the fuel tank isn’t simply meant for show. Not only is the process far faster than traditional methods, but it also helps to reduce waste in the construction process. Lockheed Martin notes that non-3D printing techniques can waste more than 80 percent of materials. But 3D printing purportedly makes use of all the titanium employed in the job, making for a far more efficient process.