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Snowbird Technologies, a Florida-based developer of ruggedized manufacturing systems, has produced 316L stainless steel components aboard the USS Essex (LHD-2) during the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2026.
The demonstration formed part of a distributed manufacturing experiment led by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE).
During the vessel’s transit from San Diego to Hawaii, Snowbird’s SAMM Tech platform produced components using laser-wire Directed Energy Deposition (DED) with nitrogen shielding gas. Integrated CNC machining was then used to achieve the required final geometry and surface finish.
Combining both processes within the same containerized system is intended to allow near-net-shape metal parts to be produ