MetalWorm and Nurol Makina deploy DED Additive Manufacturing for critical armoured vehicle component
MetalWorm and Nurol Makina, both based in Ankara, Türkiye, have announced a collaboration in which a critical connection component for armoured vehicles was successfully produced using Directed Energy Deposition (DED). The manufactured part passed extensive laboratory and field testing, meeting all required standards.
Weighing approximately 8.5 kg and produced via DED using additional steel filler material, the component was later machined to its final geometry through conventional subtractive methods. Detailed analyses were carried out on the part both in laboratory settings and under real field conditions. The main goal of this study was to assess the viability of DED technology as a reliable alternative to traditional manufacturing techniques in the defence industry.
The part successfully passed both destructive and non-destructive tests and was installed on an armoured vehicle, where it was tested under field conditions for eight months. Post-test inspections confirmed that the part showed no signs of failure or issues. All tests concluded with consistent and reliable results. The findings from this work were presented at the AMC Turkey 2025 Conference.
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This study has demonstrated that DED technology can be effectively used in real-world operational conditions for high-security and high-performance applications such as armoured vehicle components. The mechanical and metallurgical performance obtained suggests that DED can play a significant role in new product development and prototype production within the defence sector. Especially in cases of low-volume manufacturing, custom-designed parts, and applications requiring rapid delivery, DED offers significant advantages.
MetalWorm continues to expand the application areas of DED technology through collaborations with companies from various industries, including defence, aerospace, space, energy, maritime, and machinery manufacturing. In these projects, specially designed parts are included in the production and field testing of specially designed components, supported by performance analysis. At the same time, MetalWorm remains committed to R&D efforts aimed at advancing DED technology and offering innovative solutions to the industry through process optimisation and the development of new material applications.
