One of the most exciting things about industrial 3D printing is its accessibility. In the past, manufacturing has been a relatively high barrier-to-entry field due to the significant up-front cost of establishing a production infrastructure. Additive manufacturing (AM) has the capacity to change that.
This was one of the core ideas behind Project DIAMOnD — short for “Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing on Demand.” Led by Automation Alley, this Michigan-based initiative aims to democratize the process of taking a product from conception to realization, serving both established players looking to transition into advanced manufacturing and those from non-traditional backgrounds who are interested in entering the field but aren’t sure where to begin.
A Crisis-Ready 3D Printing Network
In many ways, Project DIAMOnD was born out of necessity. During the pandemic, Oakland County approached Automation Alley with a funding opportunity — and a business challenge. The County wanted to implement a tactical program that would encourage companies to adopt the principles of Industry 4.0 while creating a localized solution to the widespread shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Working with Oakland and Macomb Counties, Automation Alley distributed 3D printing hardware to 300 small and medium-sized manufacturers across the region. The businesses were asked to use the 3D printers as if they were their own. By participating, the companies agreed that, if they were called upon to do so, they would support the production of PPE. Our idea was that, by networking these machines together, we could send a PPE print file and have hundreds of manufacturers produce it simultaneously, creating an emergency response network of printers.
We had the opportunity to test the efficacy of this approach in 2022 when we received a request to print tourniquet clips to be sent to Ukraine. In just a week and a half, we shipped out 10,000 individual components — validating our concept and ushering in the second phase of Project DIAMOnD.
Scaling and Accelerating Digital Transformation
For Phase Two of Project DIAMOnD, we scaled the program to include a larger cohort of Oakland County, Michigan-based small and medium-sized manufacturers. We also built on our findings from the initial phase of delivery. While Phase One included some education and training, we found that one of the biggest challenges participants faced was translating their technical know-how into a viable, sustainable business model centered around 3D printing. In response to this, we created the Project DIAMOnD AcademySM. This comprehensive, 12-week training program equips participants with the technical and entrepreneurial skills to conceptualize innovative additive applications and build business models around them.
Participants receive a printer grant that allows them to purchase equipment and begin using AM techniques in their own facilities. In addition, they have access to the Digital Transformation Center, a state-of-the-art facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan, equipped with advanced, high-volume 3D printing hardware and staffed by experts who can provide specialized support.
In tandem with this programming, we partnered with Markforged, Inc. to develop a peer-to-peer marketplace. This platform is designed to empower manufacturers to license their print-on-demand product designs (or “recipes”) while maintaining ownership of their intellectual property (IP). This marks a shift from the traditionally capital-intensive approach to manufacturing to an agile, digitally enabled model focused on building value through a portfolio of IP.
An Agile and Additive Future
With its franchiseable, configurable model, the second phase of Project DIAMOnD was designed with expansion in mind. Already, we’re responsible for the largest open, distributed, and decentralized network in the country — and we’re actively working to scale Project DIAMOnD to reach the entire state of Michigan. A step in this direction is a Department of Energy grant of $1.9 million to expand the additive manufacturing training beyond southeast Michigan. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and Automation Alley are adding another $600,000 in supporting funding, bringing the total to $2.5 million. The funding will support the expansion of Project DIAMOnD to more than 100 small and medium-sized manufacturers. It’s an important first step in the vision of scaling Project DIAMOnD statewide.
It’s particularly exciting to see RAPID + TCT 2025 return to Detroit. The city is a global manufacturing powerhouse. As such, RAPID + TCT will position the AM sector’s leading voices, ideas, and companies in the heart of a thriving hub of industry. However, Detroit’s future as a manufacturing leader will hinge on its ability to bridge the gap between its traditional manufacturing strengths and emerging technologies, such as industrial 3D printing.
Much like the automotive industry redefined transportation, Michigan has the opportunity to play a key role in manufacturing’s digital transformation. Integrating AM within established manufacturing ecosystems such as Detroit’s will pave the way for manufacturers across the country to adopt and build upon these technologies. The foundation for this new era of industrial progress is already in place. The only limitation will be our willingness to embrace the potential of this extraordinary technology.
Pavan Muzumdar is the chief operating officer of Automation Alley, Michigan’s Digital Transformation Insight Center and CEO of Project DIAMOnD. You can find Automation Alley at Booth 1648 at RAPID + TCT 2025. Muzumdar will present a conference session April 8 about transforming manufacturing with distributed 3D printing networks and lessons and innovations learned from Project DIAMOnD. Automation Alley will also host an Integr8 Roundtable series discussion April 9 titled Additive Manufacturing and its Expanding Role. Click here to request a roundtable invitation. To apply for Project DIAMOnD, visit projectdiamond.org.