3D Systems has been awarded an additional $9 million under the US Air Force-funded Large-Format Metal 3D Printer Advanced Technology Demonstrator program (GEN-II DMP-1000). This award represents the next planned phase of the program 3D Systems has been executing since 2023. The program has been focused on the development and demonstration of large-scale, high-temperature, flight-relevant metal 3D printing technologies. Work under this phase will continue to be performed at the company’s San Diego, California and Rock Hill, South Carolina, facilities. The program supports 3D Systems’ broader efforts to advance large-format direct metal printing systems capable of producing flight-critical components at scale. Though details of the program have remained scant, the GEN-II DMP-1000 moniker and the 500mm-cubed build volume of 3D Systems' DMP Factory 500 indicate the company is working on developing a metal 3D printer that measures approximately 1000mm in at least one direction. “This award increases total project funding to $27.4 million and reflects the U.S. Air Force’s continued confidence in our technology, its development path, and our teams,” said Dr Michael Shepard, Vice President, Aerospace & Defense, 3D Systems. “It has been exciting to see the system come together, and we look forward to working with additional partners on new applications as the platform matures.” This time last year, 3D Systems received an additional $7.65 million from the US Air Force to continue work through the GEN-IIDMP-1000 program. At that time, Shepard had said that 'a number of innovative technologies' had been successfully demonstrated under this program.