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The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute 

Fast Facts

Established
August 2012
Website www.americamakes.us
Mission Nationally-recognized collaboration driver between government, industry, academia, the workforce, and economic development organizations to accelerate additive manufacturing adoption and ensure U.S. manufacturing competitiveness
Headquarters Youngstown, OH
Consortium Organizer National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM)
Satellite Locations
  • The W.M. Keck Center for 3D Innovation at The University of Texas at El Paso (El Paso, TX)
  • Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station at Texas A&M University (College Station, TX)
  • National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University (Wichita, KS)
Institute Metrics
as of November 1, 2025
 
315    Member Organizations
Total Ongoing and Completed Projects
319    Technology Projects
148    Education and Workforce Development (EWD) Projects
Education and Workforce Development
60,265    Participants in EWD Projects or Institute-led EWD Activities from FY20-FY25
Additional Info
Institute Snapshot
America Makes convenes government, industry, academia, the workforce, and economic development organizations to accelerate additive manufacturing adoption and support global U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.

 
Institute Capabilities
Success Story Examples
  • America Makes partnered with Air Force Research Laboratory to deliver the Acceleration of Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing (ALSAM) system. This capability provides specialized software, controls, and processes to advance future defense product and manufacturing development across aerospace, missile defense, munitions, and ground vehicles.
     
  • Collaborating with the Defense Logistics Agency, America Makes developed and transitioned the Joint Additive Manufacturing Model Exchange – an accessible, secure platform for the warfighter to download needed 3D printing files in the field.
     
  • America Makes supplied courses for the Naval Aviation School for Additive Manufacturing to empower military personnel with the skills to produce mission-critical additive manufacturing parts at sea, strengthening DoD readiness and technological advantage. The effort led to a Navy Occupational Code indicating the Warfighter or Naval Aviation Mechanic is additive certified.
     
  • With small business Craitor, America Makes helped develop a durable, expeditionary 3D printer for military operations in austere locations.
     
  • America Makes and Ursa Major Technologies are accelerating rocket engine production through a cost-effective additive manufacturing process for copper combustion chambers. This will reduce manufacturing time from 6 months to 30 days.