Photo By Senior Airman Christian Silvera | Staff Sgt. Christopher Conway, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, uses a...... read more read more
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Innovation is more than a buzzword; it is the duty of all Airmen to revolutionize existing capabilities and processes in an effort to reduce wasted resources and enhance the mission of the U.S. Air Force.
In his ‘Innovation Letter to Airmen,’ Gen. Charles Q. Brown, Jr., Chief of Staff of the Air Force, stated “Airmen must accelerate change through innovation.”
“To succeed, we must properly identify problems, empower decentralized solutions by individuals and teams, and infuse an ethos of innovation at all levels,” Brown said. “Innovation depends on both creative individuals and support organizations to turn concepts into reality.”
Staff Sgt. Christopher Conway, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, is a catalyst for revolutionizing Joint Base Charleston’s abilities by turning his concepts into reality through 3D printing.
Conway has creatively solved issues around base with his designs, helping to improve unit effectiveness since becoming an intern at the Palmetto Spark Innovation Lab.
“I designed an adjustment to a pressure sensor for the 628th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight,” Conway said. “The sensors that check the air pressure inside the hangars were not reading correctly, so they asked me to make a shroud. I took their sensor and scanned it. Then I made some manipulations, and it was able to read the air pressure properly.”
In addition to innovating multiple resources on base, Conway’s designs are cost-effective and mitigate manpower waste.
“I also made ammunition speedloaders for combat arms training, saving them about 200 man hours annually,” Conway said. “It is also cost-effective, as each one I make is 0.5% of what it would cost to buy commercially.”
Conway has also produced designs of avionic alignment tools, which have been approved by Boeing, and are now in tool boxes across the flight line.
“He has exceeded our expectations, and the impact he has had on so many base agencies and both wings has been phenomenal,” said Capt. Daniel Weisz, deputy director of Palmetto Spark Innovation Lab. “He is our first intern we have had, so he is already setting a high standard.”
As for how 3D printing fits into the future of the Air Force, Conway believes it is something every base should capitalize on.
“We can change materials, make our own tools on the fly, and fill the gaps from older manufacturers,” Conway said. “I think every base should have access to a 3D printer.”
Conway hopes the impact he makes inspires people to want to learn about 3D printing and utilize the Palmetto Spark Innovation Lab.
“It is an untapped resource and so easy to get into,” Conway said. “We have a room to accommodate people who want to learn. We run a class every quarter, and we give people one-on-one training.”
To start innovating with the Palmetto Spark Innovation Lab, visit the lab from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or send ideas via email to: palmetto@palmettospark.org
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 04.11.2023 14:01 |
| Story ID: | 442405 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 175 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 437th AMXS Airman enhances capabilities through 3D print designs, by SrA Christian Silvera, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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