The U.S. Marine Corps is evaluating the utility of an expeditionary fabrication laboratory (X-FAB) for on-demand crisis response. A self-contained fab lab, the 20 x 20 foot unit is stocked with four 3D printers, CAD software and a 3D scanner.
It can be deployed with battalion-level Marine maintenance units, servicing support ground equipment including motor transport and communications electronics.
临时支持
设备的避难所设计为可折叠，可以使用陆上电源或发电机为功率供电。当在现场组装时，需要一支由四名海军陆战队组成的团队进行两到三个小时的设置。
Howie Marotto中校是海军陆战队装置和物流的增材制造业。Speaking to DVIDS马洛托说：“在有争议的环境中，船只无法轻易着陆，或者飞机不一定要飞进去运送货物，海军陆战队需要一种方式来支持自己 - 至少是暂时的，”
“可部署的X-FAB将为他们提供另一个供应自己的渠道，直到常规物流或供应链可以为他们提供支持为止。”
该设施也可以用来为海军陆战队配备新技术，像3D打印的无人机。该项目是广泛的倡议throughout the military to provide overnight manufacturing solutions.
Permanent service
A field user evaluation (FUE) of the X-FAB lab will continue through September 1 2017. The FUE has been conducted in part by Master Sgt. Carlos Lemus, officer in charge of the Additive Manufacturing and Innovation Cell with 2nd Maintenance Battalion.
大师中士。Lemus comments, “We are looking to exploit this capability, because it has the potential to cut out the time it takes to order and receive parts,”
“我们的机械师无需等待数周或一个月的零件，而是可以在一天结束时脱颖而出。”
该计划是能够将系统集成到各种操作中，并与具有铣削功能的海军陆战队的商店设备，机械车间（SEMS）合作使用。
Stay updated with 3D printing’s latest movements by注册我们的新闻通讯，，，，在Twitter上关注我们and在Facebook上喜欢我们。
If you’re looking for a new career move注册我们的专家3D打印工作网站here.
Featured image: Gunnery Sgt. Doug McCue examines a 3D printer inside the Marines’ expeditionary fabrication lab X-FAB. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Kailtin Kelly
