World’s Largest Metal 3D Printer Seen at Ingersoll Grand Opening Event

Ingersoll Machine Tools, member of the Camozzi Group and maker of some of the very largest-scale precision machine tools and machined parts, recently held a grand opening for its newly expanded manufacturing, assembly and testing center in Rockford, Illinois. Among the machines on display at the event was the company’s MasterPrint Metal, assumed to be the largest metal additive and milling machine in the world.

The 36-foot-long metal additive machine using friction stir welding to 3D print metal is part of a U.S. Army project to produce monolithic hulls for combat vehicles.

Describing the new facility, CEO Jeffrey Ahrstrom says, “We have completed construction of new buildings, refurbished existing facilities, and built our largest and most capable machine tool to date [the MES4, see below] to create a 40,000-square-foot Technical Center and further our contracting abilities for our partners.” He continues, “Additionally, we have added extensive testing and measuring equipment, so that we can ensure the precision work performed matches the demanding standards set by customers, such as the U.S. Navy and the groundbreaking Giant Magellan Telescope.”

The MasterPrint Metal is the larger of two AM machines being built for the U.S. Army. The machine has a working envelope for both additive manufacturing and milling of 36 by 23 by 13 feet. It 3D prints in metal using a friction stir welding metal deposition system developed by Meld Manufacturing.

Other large machines seen at the opening include Ingersoll’s MasterMill MES4 milling machine, which will operate at Ingersoll producing complex, tight-tolerance parts for the Navy. With a work volume of 25 by 11 by 6.2 meters, the machine is the largest and most productive five-axis MasterMill built to date, the company says.

Ingersoll opened its newly expanded manufacturing, assembly and testing center at the company’s long-standing location in Rockford, Illinois. Photo: Ingersoll Machine Tools.