NAVAL STATION Mayport, Fla. –
Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC) became the Navy’s first Regional Maintenance Center (RMC) to take delivery of a new state-of-the art “abrasive waterjet” cutting system. Unlike metal cutters, a waterjet never gets dull and it cannot overheat, eliminating heat-affected zones or mechanical stresses.
Armed with a 60,000 psi jet of water mixed with fine particles of garnet stone, Sailors at SERMC can process virtually any material, part or shape more effectively and efficiently than with other fabrication methods, empowering them to lower production costs and deliver complete repairs to the fleet more quickly.
Sailors here can quickly and easily go from an image or drawing to finished part using one piece of equipment, eliminating the need for secondary machining.
With this enhanced functionality and ease of operation, SERMC shops can quickly and easily program and cut 3D patterns for a multitude of applications, from shipfitter to pipe fittings. The new gear automates most programming and tool setup, virtually eliminating the need for extensive operator training.
“The software is user-friendly, yet very powerful,” said Hull Maintenance Technician Fireman Mionna Green. “(The software) has a big impact on how easily and quickly we can produce a component. I was able to go from concept to cutting in about 15 minutes,” Green said.
Machinery, like the waterjets, are part of the professional development for Sailors at SERMC, who can earn additional Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) codes through the Navy Afloat Maintenance Training Strategy (NAMTS) while fabricating and installing flat and/or complex metal forms in support of Fleet-directed requirements.
“NAMTS is all about professional development,” said Osbert N. Teeka-Singh, regional NAMTS Coordinator at SERMC. “It’s about hands-on experience, and training Sailors with new methods and technology in the 21st century, which is more in-depth than what these Sailors would otherwise learn in a classroom.”
“With the extra knowledge, these Sailors perform better on Navy advancement exams and tend to advance at a higher rate than the fleet average,” Teeka-Singh said.
The fleet benefits directly once these Sailors transfer to their next sea-duty billet where they enhance their ship with superior knowledge and experience.
For more information about Southeast Regional Maintenance Center, lease visit: http://www.navsea.navy.mil/CNRMC/SERMC/default.aspx