In a matter of months, I will be joining the military. As a hobbyist and someone who enjoys using 3D printers, I want to make some objects that will help me as a person in the military. Everything in the military needs to be rugged and tough… I think 3D printing can achieve this.
What are your thoughts about using 3D printing for more rugged jobs? Is it reliable?
Congrats on joining the military. Hopefully you joined the marines like a real man.
Honestly, there is almost no point to printing something to bring. There are not many ideas for things that will help you. All of your equipment is going to be issued to you.
Anyways, when you are on base you will not even be allowed to have the printer with you. They don’t even allow things like toasters.
Probably a somewhat tricky question for an open, international forum when considering ITAR, export control,…
But you could google things like “3d print army”…
& 
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/500093p.PDF
This won’t help, but it’s an interesting read!
uncle sam is brainwashing you!!!
hm.. but i know… 
Nothing I create will be top secret. They will generally be things like a rugged chapstick holder or an item container, just adapted to military aspects.
Thank you for your feedback. The things I am bringing will be small and basically unnoticeable items. Just some rugged boxes and such to keep personal (necessary) items safe when I am out in the field.
But, well, we do get regular trainings on export control and have to classify every single doc and even mail. Better safe than sorry.
Especially young people joining the (work) force may benefit from the occasional word of caution lest it hits 'em like a ton of bricks later on.
i dont get it…
im out of this topic
BOLC or boot camp? 2525252525
The British Army back in the 90’s had a term “Gucci Gear” that still exists to this day. A lot of personal gear is 
so people choose to spend on their own carry.
There are plenty of useful EDC items available to 3D print from an EDC card to carry some gaffer tape (I used to stick strips of it to the lids of all my packs), paracord wraps, tick removal tool, waterproof match caddy/tinderbox, an Altoid tin housewife (the British Army called their sewing kit a housewife), ranger (pacing) beads, glow in the dark scales on a Swiss Army Knife.
Keep it light though, and maybe print some of that before you go and get it shipped when you join to trade with other boots.
I’m an old fart now but two things I learnt the hard way were the more you know, the less you carry and never volunteer for anything.
So the requirements are basically military-grade - or at least that’s how the industry operates - so what’s the point of using a toy like Bambu? It’s not just the printer itself, but the materials too. The same goes for durability. You really have to bring out the big guns:
SLS 3D printing - Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is known for producing strong and durable parts, Here, for example, for drone parts:
Thank you for these ideas! They are very helpful.
Again, I will not be printing anything that is required to save a life. They are just tiny little things to improve quality of life.
Do you have any tips for using Bambu Machines, as well as personal CAD software to develop equipment? I have seen a lot of rugged things on Makerworld, but whether they are just designed to loo like rugged gear, or are actually designed to work under strain is beyond my knowledge.
I wouldn’t bother printing/taking anything! Your first few months will be in training and they provide you with everything you need. If you have extras, often times they will take it from you. In other words, EVERYTHING has to be “military”.
Once you’re sent to your duty station that’s when you can loosen up a bit and have personal things, like a 3D printer, in your barracks. Until then I would bring as little as possible, literally just the basic toiletries and a few changes of clothes.
Good luck in whatever branch you’re joining!
If you want to print rugged objects combine ASA or PC with TPU. You will be surprised how tuff a 3D print can get.
For boot/intake, maybe just a keepsake or two. Good luck!
Once you’re done with that, maybe try to join a drone division. Printing is a core part of that, FDM nylons/PC/ASA for basics, usually SLS nylons for more advanced stuff. The 414th’s shopping list for material looks very familiar
//until you get to the explosives
Thank you for this! Very helpful. What are your recommendations on those items?
Which military is it? In some of them, all the equipment comes from big defense contractors and it can be illegal to modify or tinker on it, or modify it. So you’re limited to making carry pouches and stuff, or a wrench handle for the track wrench for your IFV. In some other militaries, they will let you build drones for your section. The first approch gives you better gear for yesterday’s fight, and the second gives you worse gear for today’s fight. An example of the first would be the US, and the second would be Ukraine. (it’s one of the reason why Ukraine needs US help for missile defense, but US needs Ukraine help for drone defense).
edit Ooh I said section instead of squad. That geo-locates me nicely. 
The U.S. Army. I do not plan on tinkering with anything. Honestly, the idea is to make something as simple as a chapstick holder, or some other super small quality of life type gear.