The US Pacific Fleet has announced the deployment of a 3D printer aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex. In this way, the ship’s crew will be able to produce spare parts directly in the open sea if needed. The new system will save time and money in the long run.
Ships in the US Navy go to sea for up to two weeks each month for training purposes. In fact, this period can be up to six to nine months for longer flights. Therefore, on-board spare parts production capabilities are needed.
One of the fastest solutions
It is stated that the 3D printing system installed on the USS Essex is one of the fastest solutions in the industry. The machine in question is capable of producing aluminum parts up to 25 x 25 cm. Thus, it will be able to print parts such as the fuel adapter, cooling plate, air release valve and valve cover.
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