Author Topic: Relativity Space: General Thread (Read 473210 times)

GWH · « **Reply #140 on:** 08/13/2019 04:07 pm »

WeMartians podcast did an interview with Jordan Noone of Relativity and it's great:
https://www.wemartians.com/episode062/

He describes how 3D printing tanks means they aren't limited to a fixed diameter and tooling during early development and how they feel this let's them respond to challenges in development and changes to the marketplace much faster.

ParabolicSnark · « **Reply #141 on:** 08/15/2019 08:00 pm »

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/relativity_turbopump-activity-6567821218576162816-Kx32

New image from Relativity on their LinkedIn. Shows the LOx turbopump being tested. There's only one pump in that turbopump, so they're doing a split shaft configuration similar to what Virgin Orbit does on the NewtonThree engine (two turbopump assemblies, each pump has their own turbine).

This actually makes sense here, as they're an expander cycle and both propellants are cryogenic. By having each pump have its own turbine, they don't have to worry about mixing propellants in between the pump and turbine.

One downside of a stubby turbopump like this is that there's a relativity short shaft and bearing span, so the rotordynamic stability dies off pretty quickly, so they'll be limited on shaft speed (and therefore power density).

Their caption is a bit interesting: "Relativity continues a turbopump test campaign....". Their turbine isn't plumbed up at all, so I'd speculate that they have the pump mounted, but haven't actually spun the pump up yet.

ParabolicSnark · « **Reply #142 on:** 08/16/2019 10:36 pm »

Another update via LinkedIn, this time they have a subscale metallic propellant tank wired up with strain gauges. I suspect they're getting ready to do a hydrostatic proof test on it and see how the printed material is holding up under representative loads.

What's interesting is the super coarse surface finish, doesn't look like they tried to finish machine it at all....with the exception of the domes adjacent to the tank closeout plates where they are finish machined and there's also a discontinuity in the tank profile. I bet they had those sections conventionally machined, bolted the bottom one to the table, printed the tank onto it, and when they got to the top, manually welded the second on. If that's true, it means they may be running into issues with the domes not collapsing as the overhand angle increases.

edzieba · « **Reply #143 on:** 08/19/2019 10:29 am »

Or the need to machine the mating surfaces for the closeout plates anyway meant you may as well machine the rest of the dome in that operation.

GWH · « **Reply #144 on:** 08/19/2019 04:44 pm »

In the WeMartians podcast they did mention the ability to do in place machining on one of their printers (Stargate?).

Since the printer is just a few commercial robot arm, working tools can be attached and removed at will. Also since the printing process here is basically just continuous welding, they may be able to attach the dome, weld it in place, and then machine for squareness with just a few tool changes.

I hadn't really thought of that too much when I listened to the podcast, thinking more on it now they could do some really trick stuff. Like printing and machining locating pins into the tank structure prior to installing the dome assembly. Then use either a dedicated welding attachment or the "printing" welder and they can complete a prepared joint in place. Being able to do all this at a single machine center seems pretty appealing. When they already know exactly where each feature lives in space, and have multi-axis robot arms, the process could be pretty slick.

I know personally I'll use 3D printed parts to supplement workholding jigs even if the printed material isn't being used as my primary member.

Asteroza · « **Reply #145 on:** 08/19/2019 11:43 pm »

Quote from: GWH on 08/19/2019 04:44 pm

In the WeMartians podcast they did mention the ability to do in place machining on one of their printers (Stargate?).

Since the printer is just a few commercial robot arm, working tools can be attached and removed at will. Also since the printing process here is basically just continuous welding, they may be able to attach the dome, weld it in place, and then machine for squareness with just a few tool changes.

I hadn't really thought of that too much when I listened to the podcast, thinking more on it now they could do some really trick stuff. Like printing and machining locating pins into the tank structure prior to installing the dome assembly. Then use either a dedicated welding attachment or the "printing" welder and they can complete a prepared joint in place. Being able to do all this at a single machine center seems pretty appealing. When they already know exactly where each feature lives in space, and have multi-axis robot arms, the process could be pretty slick.

I know personally I'll use 3D printed parts to supplement workholding jigs even if the printed material isn't being used as my primary member.

Mori-DMG was offering a hybrid CNC/3D printer system that did arm tool changes to print and machine (helpful to clean up prints before a space is closed off due to printing). Though that machine wasn't huge, and I think it was doing blown metal powder laser sintering.

TrevorMonty · « **Reply #146 on:** 08/20/2019 06:33 pm »

Quote from: GWH on 08/13/2019 04:07 pm

WeMartians podcast did an interview with Jordan Noone of Relativity and it's great:
https://www.wemartians.com/episode062/

Listen to interview, a few takes from it.
Done 200 engine tests.
LV configuration is same as F9 and Electron with 9+1 common engines. Reuseability is on the todo list.

My guess on reuseability.
At 1250kg to LEO they could do reentry burn and still deliver useful payload to orbit. Should be light enough for mid air capture.

GWH · « **Reply #147 on:** 08/30/2019 04:20 pm »

https://twitter.com/relativityspace/status/1167467540056092672

Note the change in orientation of the grain. It looks like the pair of circumferential welds about the z-axis was made over the xy-z orientation of the "printed" material.
No reason to think this wasn't performed by the same machine and indicative of how they can really get creative in the fabrication process.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #148 on:** 09/11/2019 09:22 am »

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1171711260989296640

Quote

At #WSBW, Tim Ellis of Relativity announces a new launch agreement with Momentus, for the launch of up to 350 kg of smallsats to GEO in 2021; option for five additional launches.

ParabolicSnark · « **Reply #149 on:** 09/19/2019 09:39 pm »

Looks like Relativity has started flowing their LOx pump.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/relativity_aeon1-activity-6580487811605020672-pW7B

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #150 on:** 10/01/2019 02:29 pm »

Quote

Amid heavy competition, Relatively Space secures $140 million in funding
"Fundraising is always a process."

by Eric Berger - Oct 1, 2019 3:18pm BST

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/amidst-heavy-competition-relatively-space-secures-140-million-in-funding/

Key point:

Quote

Relativity Space announced Tuesday that it has closed a $140 million Series C funding round led by Bond and Tribe Capital. With this funding, Relativity chief executive Tim Ellis tells Ars the company is fully funded to complete development of its Terran 1 rocket, and reach orbit.

su27k · « **Reply #151 on:** 10/01/2019 02:53 pm »

Crazy, how did they do it? It seems nobody here see them as a good bet, yet investors clearly think otherwise...

playadelmars · « **Reply #152 on:** 10/01/2019 03:15 pm »

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/01/rocket-builder-relativity-raises-140-million-from-mary-meeker-others.html

New details: upgrade to 3m payload fairing, new “twice as large” version of next-generation Stargate 3D printer and they have several operational already. With twice the payload volume they are now competing squarely in the Vega/PSLV launch class but at 1/4 the price. Pretty nuts.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #153 on:** 10/01/2019 04:26 pm »

Talking of crazy:

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1179067196686794752

Quote

Relativity's long-term goal of 3D printing rockets on Mars may lead the company to fly with Jeff Bezos' @blueorigin:

“We’d be one of the biggest New Glenn customers of the future,” Relativity CEO Tim Ellis said.
cnbc.com/2019/10/01/roc…

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #154 on:** 10/01/2019 05:52 pm »

Quote from: su27k on 10/01/2019 02:53 pm

Crazy, how did they do it? It seems nobody here see them as a good bet, yet investors clearly think otherwise...

Heavy automation with near zero human labor sells big because employees do not detract from the bigger foreseen return on investment. Using reliable technologies such as CAD and 3D printing are a big plus. AR and others have proven these technologies at increasing scales and this is the next logical step on the scale. Before long other companies will have to adapt to survive the new norm if the company becomes successful.

meberbs · « **Reply #155 on:** 10/01/2019 06:10 pm »

Quote from: su27k on 10/01/2019 02:53 pm

Crazy, how did they do it? It seems nobody here see them as a good bet, yet investors clearly think otherwise...

They caught my eye early as one of the new launch companies that actually had a differentiator from the rest that was actually plausible. I heard Tim Ellis give a speech earlier this year, and their team is insane, they have a bit of top talent and recognizable names from basically every major player. A lot of the doubts about them has questioned their business plan and whether their methods actually would save money, but there is just too much internal information that outsiders don't have needed to know for sure. When a hyper-experienced team like they have believes they have a workable business plan, at the very least it is a bad idea to bet against them.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #156 on:** 10/01/2019 06:41 pm »

ARTICLE: Relativity Space Using 3D Printing to Launch a Growing Manifest amid funding boost -

- By Thomas Burghardt (@TGMetsFan98)

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/10/relativity-3d-printing-launch-manifest-funding/

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1179103571956113408

playadelmars · « **Reply #157 on:** 10/15/2019 05:28 am »

More discussion of how Stargate printer works

https://www.wired.com/story/massive-ai-powered-robots-are-3d-printing-entire-rockets/

vaporcobra · « **Reply #158 on:** 10/29/2019 10:13 pm »

Whole lotta cool new renders from a recent website update

I'm personally pretty damn impressed with their new octaweb design, looks extremely slick. Major "Falcon 9 but smaller and 3D-printed" vibes from this latest design variant.

Asteroza · « **Reply #159 on:** 10/29/2019 11:17 pm »

That launch mount screams triple stick upgrade like Falcon Heavy...