Keesler facility practices C3 with training tools Published April 11, 2013 By Airman 1st Class Stephan Coleman 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- The 81st Training Support Squadron's trainer development facility provides Keesler with the ability to produce custom training equipment at lower costs. The building offers a variety of services, such as fabricating items from wood, plastic, and metal; powder coat and down-draft painting; three dimensional modeling and software development. Ideally, the facility can construct any training device Keesler may need. "Instead of going out and buying new equipment," said Thomas Lassabe, 81st Training Support Squadron training technology flight chief. "We have the capabilities to manufacture it ourselves for less cost." The facility, built in 2010, houses many state-of-the-art machines as well as some machines from the 1950s that still do their jobs. The main shop is full of multi-crafters for sheet metal fabrication, water jet cutting, welding, plasma cutting and wood working. Many of the machines can run on automation after designs are loaded into the computer, cutting down on time and safety concerns. "The computer-run machines can do anything the manual machines do with little interaction from personnel," said Lassabe. "This cuts down a lot on man-hours." The facility features two 3D modeling machines. One is used to manufacture items for demonstrational purposes and can print in color, while the other manufactures functional plastic devices and parts. 3D modeling allows for advanced prototyping of unique and newly designed training materials. On the working floor was a large computer terminal that needed new housing for its interfaces. The metal and wood working equipment can build the structure, but the electronic development area facilitates the circuitry for any software needs in training equipment. As for limits to a design, Lassabe said, the trainer development facility has none.