Seagoing ships from the smallest trawler to the largest naval vessel have long dedicated precious space to repair lockers. With the 6,000 man crews of the floating nuclear-powered cities that make up the super carriers of the U.S. Navy, they have whole departments with dedicated shops that can meet electrical, sheet metal paint, DC, hull, aviation, and other needs.
Now, add a 3D printing shop.
151127-N-DZ642-052 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 27, 2015) Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class A Figert uses a 3-D printer aboard aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group is deployed to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class B. Siens/Released)
Within their first weeks of deploying in November, sailors already had created and “printed out” custom dust caps and a wrench. A sailor in the “fab lab” designed his own solution after he and others grew frustrated that an oil cup on a machine was too small for a funnel.
“It required at least two people to get all the oil in the cup, so I figured we have this technology here, why not try something that would make this task easier,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Raymond Lee said. “I came up with an extension that narrows the nozzle, cuts the manpower in half, ensures there’s no spilled oil all over the deck.”
Officials aboard the ship say ideas for using the printer are pouring in from sailors.
“I think the possibilities are endless,” Lee said.
The ‘fab lab’ consists of two 3-D printers, a desktop computer and a large flat-screen monitor with a wireless keyboard and mouse. The printers are similar in size and shape to a traditional desktop printer.
