Photo By Sgt. George Melendez | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tracey Taylor, a computer technician with 7th...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay -- Hawaii based Marines use 3D printing technology to repair a critical component sidestepping the requisitioning process and increasing unit readiness.
The process enables units to use commercially driven technology to design and print parts and solve problems at the far end of the logisitics chain, and increases the ability of equipment to continue meeting mission requirements.
On December 21, 2018 Support Company, Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 3D printed a repair part for Electronic Maintenance Platoon, 3rd Radion Battalion on Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
After nearly a year of continuously being delayed, EM technicians worked with CLB-3 to successfully design, develop, print and repair the critical component within one month.
U.S. Marine Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Sheer, ground electronics maintenance officer, 3rd Rad. Bn., states "The design process needs to include the owner, maintainer, and 3d designer in order to get the project started. It is the key to success."
U.S. Marine Cpl. Anthony Farrington, designer, CLB-3, elaborated that the replacement part prototype took approximately three hours to design, and the printing averaged between five to six hours. The part was then used to complete the overall unit, restoring capability.
Subject matter expert, U.S. Marine Chief Warrant Officer 3 Waldo Buitrago, CLB-3, explains, "With the use of 3D printing, Marines are empowered to create solutions to immediate and imminent challenges through additive manufacturing innovation."
Additive manufacturing is still a relatively new concept in the Marine Corps. "We need to embrace 3D printing and encourage our Marines to express their creativity, which in turn, could lead to solutions in garrison and combat such as in this case study," states Buitrago.
To combat future threats, innovative actions need to be taken, including those used in the process of 3D printing. Not only does 3D printing increase unit readiness and force projection, it increases mutual support between units and collaboration across the Hawaii MAGTF.
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2019 19:52 |
| Story ID: | 309485 |
| Location: | HI, US |
| Web Views: | 394 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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