U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, Naval Sea Systems commander, has visited a fabrication laboratory that the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency provided to Mayport, Florida-based Southeast Regional Maintenance Center.
The Navy said Thursday DARPA established Fab Lab in August as part of efforts to expand parts availability and address logistics supply chain costs and fleet readiness.
“Right now, the tentative timeline is to begin conducting training workshops on the use of the equipment,” said Tarah Horney, facilitator at the SERMC Fab Lab.
Horney added the laboratory will help train and expose deckplate sailors to new technology and fabrication methods.
Fab Lab contains tools and equipment such as laser cutters, routers and 3D printers to help sailors manufacture high-demand, low-supply parts or create unique components, the Navy noted.
Gill Pratt, program manager at DARPA’s defense sciences office, said DARPA wants sailors to create designs and rapid prototypes “that could be certified for wider fleet use.”
