Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) acquired its first mini fabrication laboratory from Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center's (MARMC) New Technology and Innovation Branch Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), June 27.

Wasp Maintenance Material Control Officer Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kevin Newton spoke about the impact of having the mini fab lab aboard the ship during their upcoming deployment.

"Bringing this mini mill to the Wasp will allow us to touch many different departments aboard the ship," said Newton. "The mini mill will be setup in our [Miniature/Micro-Miniature] (2M) shop, which is right off the mess decks so there will be ample opportunity for Sailors to come by and test their ideas. I can tell you that word has spread quickly throughout the ship that we are bringing a 3-D printer aboard and the Sailors are excited."

This is the third mini fab lab that MARMC has placed on a ship. Amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) and aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) previously had mini fab labs brought aboard.

"We are excited to see the mini fab lab go aboard another ship, especially when you look at the accomplishments that have come from the Truman," said MARMC Fab Lab Branch Lead Tim Van Arsdale. "Truman Sailors, using a mini Fab Lab developed by MARMC, prototyped and produced a clip that attaches to the antenna of the P7100 HYDRA radio, protecting the adapter cable, which was often replaced as many as seven times a month. The mini fab labs really help to foster innovation from the Sailors and have gotten the attention from high ranking officials in the Navy. We are really hoping that the Wasp can take the lessons learned from the previous two ships and run with it and make it even more effective this time."

The mini fab lab consists of two additive manufacturing (3-D) printers along with a desktop Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) mill. A large flat screen monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse are also included. The 3-D printer has the ability to build many sizes and shapes out of polymers.

Wasp Sailors have been training in the MARMC Fabrication Laboratory since the beginning of June as an introduction to digital manufacturing and innovation. They trained in 3-D rendering programs, soldering basics and electronic component instruction. The goal of the training is to give them the basic instruction needed to operate a mini fab lab while underway.

According to Newton he is expecting this mini fab lab project to be a huge success and is planning on working with his Marine counterparts while they are aboard.

"This is just another way that we can engage our junior Sailors," said Newton. "We are looking for fresh ideas, and this way we can put those creative minds to good use in order to solve a potential problem or improve the way a particular item works. We also have Marines on board and some of them already have a working knowledge with using the 3-D printers from their schoolhouse in Fort Lee -- so this will be a blue and green team effort to see how we can use this technology to benefit us."

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For more news from Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, visit http://www.navy.mil/.