US aircraft carrier with 3D printer can make replacement parts by itself
On December 25th, the US "Stars and Stripes" website published a report by Brock Foggis entitled "The US "Harry Truman" aircraft carrier used 3D printer to print special spare parts at sea", compiled as follows:
If a warship has a problem at sea, finding replacement parts is not as simple as going to a hardware store.
Therefore, the US Navy is resorting to technical means, so that sailors can use 3D printer to print out custom parts on board. There are now two "military manufacturing laboratories" on the two warships, namely the "Truman" nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the "Chilshazhi" amphibious assault ship. In the fight against the "Islamic State" organization, the two warships stationed at the Norfolk base were sent to the Middle East.
Navy Lieutenant Colonel Brady Drenan said in inspection of the small printing equipment on the "Truman" aircraft carrier: "The purpose is to make us more self-sufficient during the deployment of overseas. Because once we leave the terminal, we basically Left all the supplies, all the equipment and all the tools there."
In November of this year, in the first few weeks of deployment, sailors have designed and “printed†custom dust covers and a wrench. A sailor designed his own accessories in the “manufacturing lab†because the oil cup on one of the machines was too small for the funnel, which made him and his comrades very upset.
Navy sergeant Raymond Lee said: "At least two people need to pour all the oil into the oil cup, so I think we have 3D printing technology on board, why not try to make the work easier? I Made an extension fitting so that the mouth of the nozzle became smaller, reducing the manpower required by half, and making sure that the oil was not splashed everywhere on the deck."
Ship officials say the sailors have come up with a lot of ideas for using 3D printers.
Li said: "I think there is limitless possibilities for this technology."
The Manufacturing Lab consists of two 3D printers, a desktop computer, and a large flat panel display with a wireless keyboard and mouse. 3D printers are about the same size and shape as traditional desktop printers.
The sailors of the "Truman" aircraft carrier were able to design the accessories of almost any shape they needed and printed them out of plastic. If you need to make larger accessories, they can also design detailed specifications that can be printed on the shore and sent to the ship.
Sailors are now experimenting with design software and printer functions. The “Manufacturing Laboratory†was built on the ship by the Mid-Atlantic Maintenance Center only three days before the departure of the Truman.
Admiral Kathy Stedell said that these 3D printers are ideal because they require special solutions for work and life on board.
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