3D printer for some space stuff

[bearnard00]

I`ve recently found an interesting article about 3D printer which is used in aerospace area. Have you heard anything about that? This machine allows to print multi-composite parts simultaneously from several materials, which is infeasible in other types of aerospace 3d printing.

[Richard]

I only know of 3d printers using one so they are getting more advance and probably much more costly , perhaps the simple ones will get cheaper soon ?

[bearnard00]

I only know of 3d printers using one so they are getting more advance and probably much more costly , perhaps the simple ones will get cheaper soon ?

I was surprised too, when I had read the article about this new technology. This machine allows to print multi-composite parts simultaneously from several materials, which is infeasible in other types of aerospace 3d printing.

[John Donne]

3d/additive manufacturing has come a long way. Industrial strength machines can make amazing things. These machines are on some of pur kargest Aircraft Csrriers to print parts as needed. They print metals.

Consumer 3d multi material printers can be had for about $1200 usd. Very good commercial 3d printers can be had for under $500 usd.

No surprise that Space Tech would use them. And this industry is just beginning...great things to come.

[GCoyote]

NASA is well aware of the potential - https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stat ... plications

Relativity Space is banking on this being a transformative technology - https://www.relativityspace.com/stargate

As John points out, the military is already using 3D printers to reduce the problems of supplying parts to units in the middle of the ocean and other remote locations. The ultimate remote location is obviously outer space. The only practical way of replacing physical parts in space is to print what you need, when you need it.

Beyond that, the concept of 'living off the land' requires that you be able to use whatever materials are available to create and sustain human infrastructure on other celestial bodies. If you want to build a moon base, you will probably have to print it.

[John Donne]

The detail I wonder about is "gravity". The technology will have to overcome this detail for "in space" manufacturing.
The materiels available are quite outstanding...synthetic and carbon fiber materials many orders of magnitude stronger that steel.
I want to get a "Prusa".

[GCoyote]

The detail I wonder about is "gravity". The technology will have to overcome this detail for "in space" manufacturing.
...

Well NASA solved that problem for at least one material and processing combination as shown above. For powdered metals, a simple electrostatic charge might be all that is needed to hold the material in place for the fraction of a second needed to fuse it to the growing work piece.

I'm very interested in what feed stock might be extracted from the Lunar regolith for example.

[bearnard00]

This 3d printer allows to print multi-composite parts simultaneously from several materials, which is infeasible in other types of aerospace 3d printing. And as it has been already mentioned in this thread it`s called additive manufacturing services and it was made up by scientists from private space company.

[Starship201]

This 3d printer allows to print multi-composite parts simultaneously from several materials, which is infeasible in other types of aerospace 3d printing. And as it has been already mentioned in this thread it`s called additive manufacturing services and it was made up by scientists from private space company.

Can you tell us what the company managed to achieve? I want to read more about this technology, and need to know the name of this space agency.

[bearnard00]

This 3d printer allows to print multi-composite parts simultaneously from several materials, which is infeasible in other types of aerospace 3d printing. And as it has been already mentioned in this thread it`s called additive manufacturing services and it was made up by scientists from private space company.

Can you tell us what the company managed to achieve? I want to read more about this technology, and need to know the name of this space agency.

The company that invented this 3D printing technology is called Skyrora and this company successfully uses 3D printing technology in manufacturing rocket engines. The third stage for Skyrora XL rocket and found out this rocket engine was made with the usage of additive technology. I can't believe that engines can be made with the help of 3d printer. I`ve never thought that 3d printing couldn't be used for such purposes. However, as I see, the final material is tough enough to handle that kind of stress.

[GCoyote]

Hmmm, these guys 3D print just about the entire rocket.
https://www.relativityspace.com/stargate

[bearnard00]

Also, I`d like to add that 3d printing technology is frequently used in the manufacturing of airplanes. I was really surprised when I found out about these pieces of information