ADVANCED 3D PRINTED HEXAGON BODY ARMOR

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Summary of Effort- The ability to 3D print local body armor and armor panels will change the defense and aerospace industry for the better. The ability to make more customizable armor to exact body proportions could make each individual soldier safe in war. Additionally, being able to 3D print broken or heavily impacted hexagon panels will be a tremendous advantage. For remote bases or even space stations, the ability to print body armor could now be a possibility!Impact- Using Carbon fiber or Kevlar printed Hexagon 4in” panels with simple 1in clips, an infinite array of geometry can be applied to fulfill a need for armor or protection. These panels can be made of more bendable but less ballistically firm with Carbon Fiber to better wrap a human shape or a full grade Kevlar which would be a lot more firm. The fantastic simplicity of the design makes it possible for any remote military or space installation to have the ability to print protective panels or armor. Project Approach- For the simple Hexagon panel and clip design, the project could be printed on essentially any current and common industry 3D printer. However, to use a Carbon Fiber or Kevlar design requires high performance FDM printing. Nylon 12CF is a very strong and durable standard made by “Stratasys, Inc” the partnered 3D printing company. Although not as flexible as pure Carbon Fiber it would be exceptional for rapid prototyping ! 3D Printing Verification- The design was sent to “Stratasys, Inc” the partnered 3D printing company and verified by them. Additionally, Oklahoma State Endeavor Laboratories X7 Markforged printers verified the capability on a small micro scale.