The Exciting Possibilities of 3D Printing in Zero-GThursday, October 16, 3:00 pmNASA is currently engaged in exploring of 3D printing in space using a printer designed by Made In Space. This printer is designed to work in a microgravity environment to produce space assets in... well... SPACE!NASA wants to test the idea of making parts inexpensively in orbit as opposed to down here on Earth and launching them to where they need to be.3D printing serves as a fast and inexpensive way to manufacture parts on-site and on-demand, reducing the need for costly spares on the International Space Station and future spacecraft. Long-term missions would benefit greatly from having onboard manufacturing capabilities. Data and experience gathered in this demonstration will improve future 3-dimensional manufacturing technology and equipment for the space program, allowing a greater degree of autonomy and flexibility for astronauts.Please join Tony Darnell Dr Carol Christian and Scott Lewis as they discuss this new experiment from NASA with Jason Dunn and Michael Snyder from Made in Space, the company contracted by NASA to build the 3D printer currently being used.For more information on NASA's 3D Printing in Zero-G Experiment: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1115.html#descriptionMade in Space: http://www.madeinspace.us/
Yeah, characterization is a big issue. Yet to be solved. A micro-CT (X-Ray) system could be a big help, but it'd be bigger than the printer.
Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/22/2014 02:49 amYeah, characterization is a big issue. Yet to be solved. A micro-CT (X-Ray) system could be a big help, but it'd be bigger than the printer.What would allow them to work around this problem? Reliance on statistical quality control? A long-term experimental program to determine how reliable 3-D printing is?
No, and no where near that bulky, expensive or time consuming. All they need is what's already on the shelf for diagnosing metalwork (welding and casting), composite construction and many other uses - a hand held sonar.
One thing that came out of Made in Space interviews was the need to allow for 3D printing of spares when designing new space stations. Ideally most parts on a new spacestation will be printed on the same printers that will be carried on board. In case of large parts allow for a replaced to be printed from multiple smaller parts and bolted together.
Quote from: rusty on 10/23/2014 12:03 amNo, and no where near that bulky, expensive or time consuming. All they need is what's already on the shelf for diagnosing metalwork (welding and casting), composite construction and many other uses - a hand held sonar.If the issue is that easy to resolve, I wonder why Mike Snyder stated that convincing NASA that 3-D printing is reliable will require a lot of heavy-duty persuasion and proof.Quote from: TrevorMonty on 10/23/2014 02:53 amOne thing that came out of Made in Space interviews was the need to allow for 3D printing of spares when designing new space stations. Ideally most parts on a new spacestation will be printed on the same printers that will be carried on board. In case of large parts allow for a replaced to be printed from multiple smaller parts and bolted together.Sparing is a big problem. The MIT analysis of Mars One’s mission design cited its failure to adequately account for sparing needs as probably a fatal flaw. Additive manufacturing could go a long way toward resolving it.
Quote from: Prober on 11/17/2014 11:42 am1-If NASA doesn't wish to use the 3D Printer2-the ESA it seems has their own program. They believe in it...SNIP1-NASA is funding this experiment. There is no reason to conclude "they don't wish to use it." But it is an experiment. 3D printing in general has to prove itself as a useful technology. And for any piece of equipment going on the ISS the standard of proof is high. You cannot substitute a new part and then have it kill somebody.2-ESA is doing the same thing NASA is doing. There is no reason to conclude that NASA doesn't believe in 3D printing and ESA does. They are doing experiments.3)NASA is ahead of the game on this. ESA is playing catch-up.
1-If NASA doesn't wish to use the 3D Printer2-the ESA it seems has their own program. They believe in it...SNIP
Quote from: Prober on 11/18/2014 11:08 pmQuote from: Blackstar on 11/17/2014 09:45 pmQuote from: Prober on 11/17/2014 11:42 am1-If NASA doesn't wish to use the 3D Printer2-the ESA it seems has their own program. They believe in it...SNIP1-NASA is funding this experiment. There is no reason to conclude "they don't wish to use it." But it is an experiment. 3D printing in general has to prove itself as a useful technology. And for any piece of equipment going on the ISS the standard of proof is high. You cannot substitute a new part and then have it kill somebody.2-ESA is doing the same thing NASA is doing. There is no reason to conclude that NASA doesn't believe in 3D printing and ESA does. They are doing experiments.3)NASA is ahead of the game on this. ESA is playing catch-up.You may research the materials and come to a different conclusion. 3) ESA may leapfrog with a superior printer.1) NASA invested an extensive amount of money into their first printer that has a sorted past. Currently, some patent lawsuits regarding that printer are in the court(s). The guts of the printer was highly advanced when it first came out of China. I was one of the first, if not the first in the USA to test samples. Today, the printer is highly mass produced. Office Depot offers a print service (local) with the printer, Staples and other stores sell it under different labels. On eBay some of the first generation of this printer have been sold for $300. Retail is around $1200.00 US.Its a decent printer to make parts. That being said, the NASA program being built around it (watch the videos) is not about printing parts for the ISS; rather its some NASA Education program. After watching the videos that came out promoting this Made in space program I felt I'd seen this before somewhere. Then it hit me, the movie Armageddon. In that movie NASA spent a ton of money for bells and whistles to make an advanced drill I honestly cannot figure out what your point is.
Quote from: Blackstar on 11/17/2014 09:45 pmQuote from: Prober on 11/17/2014 11:42 am1-If NASA doesn't wish to use the 3D Printer2-the ESA it seems has their own program. They believe in it...SNIP1-NASA is funding this experiment. There is no reason to conclude "they don't wish to use it." But it is an experiment. 3D printing in general has to prove itself as a useful technology. And for any piece of equipment going on the ISS the standard of proof is high. You cannot substitute a new part and then have it kill somebody.2-ESA is doing the same thing NASA is doing. There is no reason to conclude that NASA doesn't believe in 3D printing and ESA does. They are doing experiments.3)NASA is ahead of the game on this. ESA is playing catch-up.You may research the materials and come to a different conclusion. 3) ESA may leapfrog with a superior printer.1) NASA invested an extensive amount of money into their first printer that has a sorted past. Currently, some patent lawsuits regarding that printer are in the court(s). The guts of the printer was highly advanced when it first came out of China. I was one of the first, if not the first in the USA to test samples. Today, the printer is highly mass produced. Office Depot offers a print service (local) with the printer, Staples and other stores sell it under different labels. On eBay some of the first generation of this printer have been sold for $300. Retail is around $1200.00 US.Its a decent printer to make parts. That being said, the NASA program being built around it (watch the videos) is not about printing parts for the ISS; rather its some NASA Education program. After watching the videos that came out promoting this Made in space program I felt I'd seen this before somewhere. Then it hit me, the movie Armageddon. In that movie NASA spent a ton of money for bells and whistles to make an advanced drill
Forget the fruitless argument above; history is being made.The first articles to be manufactured aboard an space station.I hope the outcome will be better than for the gallium-arsenide crystal manufacturing experiments once carried out on the shuttles.