3D printer for space

[DarkenedOne]

You know I was reviewing the basics of 3D printing technology or more specifically extrusion based 3D printing technology. 

Personally I do not see why we could not say take a Makerbot and run it on the ISS with little or no modification. 

If we could do so than we could then use it to make many simple things like brackets and things of that nature. 

Does anyone see any problems with the technology that would make it difficult to adapt to spaceflight.

[A_M_Swallow]

Any machine that uses gravity as part of its operation will not work in space.  Liquids will have to be pumped.  Powders will have a tendency to fly off.  Very high temperatures, such as needed to melt most metals, will cause problems for the ISS's cooling systems.

[QuantumG]

http://madeinspace.us/

[Pedantic Twit]

http://blog.reprap.org/2009/10/printing-in-space.html
http://reprap.erikdebruijn.nl/files/research/NASA%20as%20user%20innovator%20-%20WPMicrogravityFDM.pdf

[ptolemy1977]

Any machine that uses gravity as part of its operation will not work in space.  Liquids will have to be pumped.  Powders will have a tendency to fly off.  Very high temperatures, such as needed to melt most metals, will cause problems for the ISS's cooling systems.

That is why the space station should have an artificial gravity attachment.  If we used an inflatable attachment designed with minimizing cost in mind we could have space borne manufacturing I believe.

[DarkenedOne]

Any machine that uses gravity as part of its operation will not work in space.  Liquids will have to be pumped.  Powders will have a tendency to fly off.  Very high temperatures, such as needed to melt most metals, will cause problems for the ISS's cooling systems.

That is what we are discussing.  The Makerbot and other extrusion based 3D printers do not use gravity as far as  I can tell.  They do not use liquids.  They do not use powders.  They use moderately high temperatures, but I could imagine it would be a problem for the cooling systems of the ISS.

[Jim]

That is why the space station should have an artificial gravity attachment.  If we used an inflatable attachment designed with minimizing cost in mind we could have space borne manufacturing I believe.

Huh?  Then why be in space if gravity is needed?

[baldusi]

I know some systems require hard vacuum. I wonder if a system could be found that actually takes advantage of microgravity to do 3D printing. I know, for example, that hard vacuum is quite a problem due to heat management issues. In manufacturing, you usually want to be able to cool your pieces. Be because you are cutting and thus generating heat, or because before you can add a new layer you need to cool off the previous one. Having vacuum means you're basically annealing (crystallizing) everything.

[Prober]

I know some systems require hard vacuum. I wonder if a system could be found that actually takes advantage of microgravity to do 3D printing. I know, for example, that hard vacuum is quite a problem due to heat management issues. In manufacturing, you usually want to be able to cool your pieces. Be because you are cutting and thus generating heat, or because before you can add a new layer you need to cool off the previous one. Having vacuum means you're basically annealing (crystallizing) everything.

future "nano" level printers are being worked on, and major changes in feed stocks will open up, so in vacuum might be useful.

[Prober]

Any machine that uses gravity as part of its operation will not work in space.  Liquids will have to be pumped.  Powders will have a tendency to fly off.  Very high temperatures, such as needed to melt most metals, will cause problems for the ISS's cooling systems.

That is what we are discussing.  The Makerbot and other extrusion based 3D printers do not use gravity as far as  I can tell.  They do not use liquids.  They do not use powders.  They use moderately high temperatures, but I could imagine it would be a problem for the cooling systems of the ISS.

From my way of thinking ground support in the EVA's when they must make new tools out of stuff in stock and be replaced with uploading the design from earth to the Iss print and use.

Extruding ABS plastic or PLA, is very very strong.  Only issue I see might be the “fumes” during the process but this isn’t impossible.   It’s something a good NASA project would be good to work the issues out.

This model “sells Mendel” is currently obsolete and many years old.  This testing was done while under the Univ in London. 

[Blackstar]

Personally I do not see why we could not say take a Makerbot and run it on the ISS with little or no modification. 

What's the fire risk? What about particulates floating out of the machine?

And what would you actually use it for? What specific things would it make that are required? What is their mass compared to the mass of the machine? What are the trades of bringing up the machine vs. simply launching the parts that you need on the next cargo flight?

I know you don't know these answers, but I'm raising them just to show the issues.

[Robotbeat]

Nano racks is flying a 3d printer to ISS, I believe.

[Prober]

Personally I do not see why we could not say take a Makerbot and run it on the ISS with little or no modification. 

 What are the trades of bringing up the machine vs. simply launching the parts that you need on the next cargo flight?

Once they can get the bugs out....this could become a means of "savings" to operations of the ISS.   As an example I think about the recent knob that Suni broke while working in one of the projects.   

Think of the logistics involved in replacing that knob.  Logistics on earth getting that one knob up to the ISS for replacement. 

Further down the line the feedstock rolls of abs filament would become a consumable.  A creative use might be to combine it as part of the packaging program for ISS resupply.   ABS is a very strong material that won’t crush giving material inside the circle of ABS feedstock.

[A_M_Swallow]

Personally I do not see why we could not say take a Makerbot and run it on the ISS with little or no modification. 

What's the fire risk? What about particulates floating out of the machine?

And what would you actually use it for? What specific things would it make that are required? What is their mass compared to the mass of the machine? What are the trades of bringing up the machine vs. simply launching the parts that you need on the next cargo flight?

I know you don't know these answers, but I'm raising them just to show the issues.

Then do the trades for the Moon and Mars.  On planets we can use local materials.  The break even point for mass and money is likely to be just over the mass of the printer and mining equipment.  On Mars it can eliminate a reorder delay of several years.

[KelvinZero]

Personally I do not see why we could not say take a Makerbot and run it on the ISS with little or no modification. 

And what would you actually use it for? What specific things would it make that are required? What is their mass compared to the mass of the machine? What are the trades of bringing up the machine vs. simply launching the parts that you need on the next cargo flight?

I know you don't know these answers, but I'm raising them just to show the issues.

I think this is asking the question backwards.

If you knew the specific part that would break, of course you would prefer to have a replacement from earth.

Instead of asking what component on the ISS a 3d printer could reproduce, perhaps we should be asking the engineers who design each component (especially of a future BEO ISS) to, where possible, design their prototypes to a similar machine.

Finally in my and other's opinion, the goal of HSF is not exploration but to 'bring the solar system into the sphere of humanities economic activity" and "establish a permanent human presence beyond earth orbit". So ISRU and self sufficiency (including manufacturing our own parts) are what it is all really about. They are the goal itself. Therefore whenever anyone suggests such toys don't help current missions, this suggests we are currently not performing the right missions.

[QuantumG]

I'm wondering if anyone on this thread has actually used a 3d printer.

I have, once or twice, and only make-shift amateur ones.

The big design constraint appears to be somewhat gravity-related. I can imagine printing things in zero-g that could only be printed on the ground with difficulty.

Is there an expert opinion available?

[rdiaz]

I would think that pretty much you are constrained to FDM-type technologies like the Makerbot, building layers of molten plastic over a receding surface. Not much of a fire hazard overall I think. The problem is that even with gravity this is not the most precise of approaches and forget about any load bearing use of your part. Nevertheless it would be awesome to fly one of these and study warping factors, build orientation, etc. Additive manufacturing will make it to space and this would be a cool starting point. Other neat machines like Stereolithography or Laser Sintering (which could make metallic parts) would be worthless in microgravity.

[A_M_Swallow]

{snip} Other neat machines like Stereolithography or Laser Sintering (which could make metallic parts) would be worthless in microgravity.

A small device can be rotated to simulate gravity.

[A_M_Swallow]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

[Prober]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

could you define aerospace?   my thinking atm is to use the space lab the ISS to perfect a 0G printer and grow from there.

[A_M_Swallow]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

could you define aerospace?   my thinking atm is to use the space lab the ISS to perfect a 0G printer and grow from there.

There will be 3 main user location types for 3D printers:
1. spacestations and spacecraft with microgravity.
2. Mars and Moon bases with low gravity.
3. Earth based laboratories and factories with 1G.

[SpacexULA]

I'm wondering if anyone on this thread has actually used a 3d printer.

I have, once or twice, and only make-shift amateur ones.

The big design constraint appears to be somewhat gravity-related. I can imagine printing things in zero-g that could only be printed on the ground with difficulty.

Is there an expert opinion available?

&

http://madeinspace.us/

I am one of the Administrators for RepRap.org, the most common 3d printer platform in the world.

Filament deposit method 3d printing has been done inverted and in Zero G.  Both Powder bed and Resin 3d printers have some pretty serious mechanical issues getting them to work in Zero G, but who knows they could be rectified tomorrow.

FDM printing is not gravity based at all, the filament is pulled in, forced into the layer below the nozzle and fused as the heat energy is transferred from the heated plastic to the cooler layer that was laid down in the last pass.

As much as I love 3d printing, I think people get a bit ahead of themselves on what 3d printing is and it's mechanical limitations.  I really don't see you getting away from a situation where you need a subtractive mill, a laser cutter, and some form of Rapid Prototyper.  It's quite a challenge to get these machines to do each others jobs because of how mechanical different their load and speed requirements are.

[QuantumG]

Thanks!

[Prober]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

could you define aerospace?   my thinking atm is to use the space lab the ISS to perfect a 0G printer and grow from there.

There will be 3 main user location types for 3D printers:
1. spacestations and spacecraft with microgravity.
2. Mars and Moon bases with low gravity.
3. Earth based laboratories and factories with 1G.

Filament deposit method (FDM) would be the preferred method for 0 G and low gravity atm.   Best operation wise, and consumables wise (storage)


My current task is research on SLA for future generations of HW.
Low cost Stereolithography (SLA) 1st generation has just started to become available via Kickstarter projects.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/formlabs/form-1-an-affordable-professional-3d-printer    Check out the video on that Kickstarter and note how "Apple like" the printer is.

Features better higher res print quality. Consumable wise (storage) would be a major issue for use in space as the materials (liquid) use UV rays to process. Current designs also require 1 G.   These design and operation issues can be engineered out.

[SpacexULA]

Prober, I don't know if I mentioned to you over in the RepRap IRC http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=reprap but the non profit branch of Lulzbot http://www.lulzbot.com/en/3d-printer/153-ao-100.html Aleph Objects has became a Silver sponcer of Mars One.

There is talk of some prizes or other cooperation between RepRap.org/Aleph Objects/Mars One.  We will see how far that goes in reality.

[Joel]

Does anyone know how far we are from having a 3D printer that is able to print the parts needed for another 3D printer, i.e. as a basis for a self-replicating machine? Or is it not at all feasible?

[QuantumG]

All of the 3d printers do that.

None of them have systems to do assembly of those parts.

So, unless you're happy with having human hands as part of the life cycle of your self-replicating machine, the pertinent question is: where's the robots?

They're coming along, and 3d printing is helping.

[Prober]

Does anyone know how far we are from having a 3D printer that is able to print the parts needed for another 3D printer, i.e. as a basis for a self-replicating machine? Or is it not at all feasible?

the self replicating printer (reprap) dream has been pushed back.  Today its cheaper to make some of the parts via the printer, manufacture the metal parts (more metal than before), and add the electronics.

Also you need to add in that the pace of new innovations make changes to the 3D printers in a constant upgrade process.
 

[Joel]

Cool, I didn't know they got that far. Thanks!

[catdlr]

3D Printer for SLS

Space Launch System Using Futuristic Tech to Build Rockets

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by NASAMarshallTV

A state-of-the-art machine was recently delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to create intricate metal parts for America's next heavy-lift rocket. (NASA/MSFC)

[KelvinZero]

3D Printer for SLS

Space Launch System Using Futuristic Tech to Build Rockets

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by NASAMarshallTV

A state-of-the-art machine was recently delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to create intricate metal parts for America's next heavy-lift rocket. (NASA/MSFC)

Thats really super cool. I love the fact it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

[DarkenedOne]

3D Printer for SLS

Space Launch System Using Futuristic Tech to Build Rockets

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by NASAMarshallTV

A state-of-the-art machine was recently delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to create intricate metal parts for America's next heavy-lift rocket. (NASA/MSFC)

Thats really super cool. I love the fact it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

I do not believe that pure iron exists on the moon.  You have oxides.

[guckyfan]

I do not believe that pure iron exists on the moon.  You have oxides.

I don't know. But meteorites contain iron, not iron oxide. So if impact pulverizes meteorites, there could be iron as there is no oxygen.

As far as I know that powder needs very specific properties like size and homogenity of size though. Unlikely the assembled iron would have those properties.

[KelvinZero]

3D Printer for SLS

Space Launch System Using Futuristic Tech to Build Rockets

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by NASAMarshallTV

A state-of-the-art machine was recently delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to create intricate metal parts for America's next heavy-lift rocket. (NASA/MSFC)

Thats really super cool. I love the fact it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

I do not believe that pure iron exists on the moon.  You have oxides.

Well you definitely do have pure (non-oxidised) iron, but after an internet search im not convinced these exist in significant quantities except embedded in glasses as specks.

http://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/curation.cfm
"Moon soil contains pure iron metal, which would quickly rust in Earth's atmosphere"

This link mentions pure iron, but apparently embedded (but not oxidized) rather than as free particles.
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2006/04apr_magneticmoondust/

This link claims you can extract iron with a simple magnet, but perhaps it is not as scientifically robust.
http://www.lunarpedia.org/index.php?title=Iron_Beneficiation

[Prober]

3D Printer for SLS

Space Launch System Using Futuristic Tech to Build Rockets

Published on Nov 6, 2012 by NASAMarshallTV

A state-of-the-art machine was recently delivered to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., to create intricate metal parts for America's next heavy-lift rocket. (NASA/MSFC)

Thats really super cool. I love the fact it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

I'd like to see NASA take this to the next level......what's needed is a low cost, compact, hight power laser.  Develop that and make it available...the open printer communities will run with it.

[Prober]

Just bumped into more info on NASA's new printers.

good read: http://news.yahoo.com/nasa-plans-3-d-printing-rocket-engine-parts-120000574.html

PDF links

http://www.estechnology.co.uk/images/m1m2m3/m2cusing.pdf

[Blackstar]

1-Instead of asking what component on the ISS a 3d printer could reproduce, perhaps we should be asking the engineers who design each component (especially of a future BEO ISS) to, where possible, design their prototypes to a similar machine.


2-Therefore whenever anyone suggests such toys don't help current missions, this suggests we are currently not performing the right missions.

1-At this very moment I am sitting in a briefing by a NASA ISS official explaining how they plan for experiments on ISS, what the limitations are, etc. The planning is very careful and constrained, not open-ended like you imply. Before you can put an experimental technology into an operational role--i.e. rely upon it--you have to do a lot of trades to make sure that this is a better solution than the tried and reliable solutions we already have.

2-That's not reality.

[go4mars]

future "nano" level printers are being worked on, and major changes in feed stocks will open up, so in vacuum might be useful.

Links?
Thinking further out:  Could zero-g and vacuum enable atom/molecule scale of printing?  monatomic ionized fields, nano-annodes, static, photon impactors/EMR fields, and such... ? 

On Mars it can eliminate a reorder delay of several years.

This could be a useful application potentially.  Labour saving is the big benefit; break a shovel?  Print a new one rather than machining one from other tools/casting a new one.  Print some of the parts of a bull-dozer or electric dirt-bike using locally-sourced feedstocks.  Lot's of things.  Colonists could state what they want, and volunteers on Earth could program a file for them.  Or suggest things that they might want. 

Aleph Objects has became a Silver sponcer of Mars One.

Ah.  Very interesting.

If you knew the specific part that would break, of course you would prefer to have a replacement from earth.

Might be able to save some weight this way though.  Build stuff such that it might break (non-critical stuff at first).  If it breaks, just print out the beefier one.  Yes I know the feedstock and 3D printer would weigh something, but if there is enough mass savings through shaving margins, then it might make sense.  This would particularly be the case in the context of something far larger than ISS.  But makes less sense if launching is cheap.  So, I guess doesn't make much sense afterall. 

I can imagine printing things in zero-g that could only be printed on the ground with difficulty.

Like elongated fragile things that cannot support their own weight under gravity but might have utility in space beyond just art (like a lightweight filter system or something)? 

it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

Not unlike iron-rich dust on Mars.  Very Very interesting to think about the possibilities. 

You have oxides.

powder needs very specific properties like homogenity of size though.

Both of those concerns (smelting and chopping to proper size) might be addressed with a laser, perhaps the same one, before they are dropped into the feedstock pot.  Maybe a robust system could use fairly rich natural oxide dusts all at once in the place things are built (a research direction anyway).  There may be dust deposits that have already been appropriately sorted in size by wind.  Alternatively, and probably more near-term, the feedstock could be made separately to required specifications.

This link mentions pure iron, but apparently embedded (but not oxidized) rather than as free particles.

"Embeded" does not imply lithified.  They might be dragged out with magnets and even mass-sorted by shooting them through a magnetic field. 

I hope the Planetary Resources Corp has some 3D print nerds in the stable.  Or at least one who pays close attention to trends and developments.  If 3D printing continues to develop quickly, some interesting implications exist for asteroid mining.  Like making your own fuel tanks (and other bits). 

By the way, as QG pointed out, until improvements in speedy robotics make 3D printing a very attractive R&D area for large-scale manufacturers on Earth, I don't expect we'll see dramatically cool things happen in space in this regard.  I think the main driver for improving 3D print capability will not be aerospace. 

[sanman]

I thought Electron Beam Melting pioneered by Arcam was more advanced than Selective Laser Melting. Don't all the Formula-1 racing teams use it?

[Prober]

future "nano" level printers are being worked on, and major changes in feed stocks will open up, so in vacuum might be useful.

Links?
Thinking further out:  Could zero-g and vacuum enable atom/molecule scale of printing?  monatomic ionized fields, nano-annodes, static, photon impactors/EMR fields, and such... ? 

On Mars it can eliminate a reorder delay of several years.

This could be a useful application potentially.  Labour saving is the big benefit; break a shovel?  Print a new one rather than machining one from other tools/casting a new one.  Print some of the parts of a bull-dozer or electric dirt-bike using locally-sourced feedstocks.  Lot's of things.  Colonists could state what they want, and volunteers on Earth could program a file for them.  Or suggest things that they might want. 

Aleph Objects has became a Silver sponcer of Mars One.

Ah.  Very interesting.

If you knew the specific part that would break, of course you would prefer to have a replacement from earth.

Might be able to save some weight this way though.  Build stuff such that it might break (non-critical stuff at first).  If it breaks, just print out the beefier one.  Yes I know the feedstock and 3D printer would weigh something, but if there is enough mass savings through shaving margins, then it might make sense.  This would particularly be the case in the context of something far larger than ISS.  But makes less sense if launching is cheap.  So, I guess doesn't make much sense afterall. 

I can imagine printing things in zero-g that could only be printed on the ground with difficulty.

Like elongated fragile things that cannot support their own weight under gravity but might have utility in space beyond just art (like a lightweight filter system or something)? 

it just uses metal powder. I have heard it claimed that you could gather iron powder from lunar regolith with little more than a magnet.

Not unlike iron-rich dust on Mars.  Very Very interesting to think about the possibilities. 

You have oxides.

powder needs very specific properties like homogenity of size though.

Both of those concerns (smelting and chopping to proper size) might be addressed with a laser, perhaps the same one, before they are dropped into the feedstock pot.  Maybe a robust system could use fairly rich natural oxide dusts all at once in the place things are built (a research direction anyway).  There may be dust deposits that have already been appropriately sorted in size by wind.  Alternatively, and probably more near-term, the feedstock could be made separately to required specifications.

This link mentions pure iron, but apparently embedded (but not oxidized) rather than as free particles.

"Embeded" does not imply lithified.  They might be dragged out with magnets and even mass-sorted by shooting them through a magnetic field. 

I hope the Planetary Resources Corp has some 3D print nerds in the stable.  Or at least one who pays close attention to trends and developments.  If 3D printing continues to develop quickly, some interesting implications exist for asteroid mining.  Like making your own fuel tanks (and other bits). 

By the way, as QG pointed out, until improvements in speedy robotics make 3D printing a very attractive R&D area for large-scale manufacturers on Earth, I don't expect we'll see dramatically cool things happen in space in this regard.  I think the main driver for improving 3D print capability will not be aerospace. 

just one nano...you should google for a list
http://nano3dprinting.net/nanoprinting/3d-printing-at-nano-scale-29024199

[A_M_Swallow]

Left to themselves the ISRU projects will produce iron bars on the Moon and Mars because that is what iron works on the Earth produce.  On small scale equipment producing iron particles is about the same level of difficulty as making a thick iron bar.  If lunar manufacturing processes prefer powder then we can dispense with the complexity of having big heavy rolling mills.

[KelvinZero]

1-Instead of asking what component on the ISS a 3d printer could reproduce, perhaps we should be asking the engineers who design each component (especially of a future BEO ISS) to, where possible, design their prototypes to a similar machine.


2-Therefore whenever anyone suggests such toys don't help current missions, this suggests we are currently not performing the right missions.

1-At this very moment I am sitting in a briefing by a NASA ISS official explaining how they plan for experiments on ISS, what the limitations are, etc. The planning is very careful and constrained, not open-ended like you imply. Before you can put an experimental technology into an operational role--i.e. rely upon it--you have to do a lot of trades to make sure that this is a better solution than the tried and reliable solutions we already have.

2-That's not reality.

American tax dollars at work. 

[Blackstar]

1-Instead of asking what component on the ISS a 3d printer could reproduce, perhaps we should be asking the engineers who design each component (especially of a future BEO ISS) to, where possible, design their prototypes to a similar machine.

2-Therefore whenever anyone suggests such toys don't help current missions, this suggests we are currently not performing the right missions.

1-At this very moment I am sitting in a briefing by a NASA ISS official explaining how they plan for experiments on ISS, what the limitations are, etc. The planning is very careful and constrained, not open-ended like you imply. Before you can put an experimental technology into an operational role--i.e. rely upon it--you have to do a lot of trades to make sure that this is a better solution than the tried and reliable solutions we already have.

2-That's not reality.

American tax dollars at work. 

Would you prefer that they act recklessly? Is it more "fun" if a commercial airline pilot does barrel rolls with the plane?

We are talking about a very expensive piece of equipment here. They don't let the kids program the experiments.

[KelvinZero]

1-Instead of asking what component on the ISS a 3d printer could reproduce, perhaps we should be asking the engineers who design each component (especially of a future BEO ISS) to, where possible, design their prototypes to a similar machine.

2-Therefore whenever anyone suggests such toys don't help current missions, this suggests we are currently not performing the right missions.

1-At this very moment I am sitting in a briefing by a NASA ISS official explaining how they plan for experiments on ISS, what the limitations are, etc. The planning is very careful and constrained, not open-ended like you imply. Before you can put an experimental technology into an operational role--i.e. rely upon it--you have to do a lot of trades to make sure that this is a better solution than the tried and reliable solutions we already have.

2-That's not reality.

American tax dollars at work. 

Would you prefer that they act recklessly? Is it more "fun" if a commercial airline pilot does barrel rolls with the plane?

We are talking about a very expensive piece of equipment here. They don't let the kids program the experiments.

Sorry, I was making a joke about you sitting in that briefing while typing messages into this forum.

[sanman]

Why wait for the ISS, Moon, or Mars to test this stuff out? Just test it out at some polar/Antarctic research station, to see whether it's all that it's cracked up to be. Surely they hate waiting for replacement parts as well, so 3D printing would probably be especially attractive for them.

Are there any blogs or published results from people using 3D printing in remote parts of the world? What are their opinions and verdicts on the pro's and cons of the technology?

[Prober]

Are there any blogs or published results from people using 3D printing in remote parts of the world? What are their opinions and verdicts on the pro's and cons of the technology?

the general answer is yes,  don't ask for a link the info is out there.

[Robotbeat]

Is it more "fun" if a commercial airline pilot does barrel rolls with the plane?

Okay, I agree with your other points, but the answer to this is: YES.

They don't let the kids program the experiments.

But Nanoracks does.
http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/15/12245222-hey-kids-send-your-stuff-into-orbit?lite
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19519.225

[Robotbeat]

I just noticed this on another thread:

....[Made In Space, Inc.]
The company's Small Business Innovative Research proposal — submitted with Arkyd Astronautics, Inc. and NanoRacks, LLC — makes the project eligible to receive up to $125,000 in NASA funding sometime next year. If all goes well with upcoming parabolic and suborbital flight tests, Made in Space could see its first 3D printer reach the space station by 2014.

(emphasis mine) Notice also this was released in December, 2011, before Planetary Resources (fka Arkyd) did their official unveiling. Interesting.

But it shows that this Made In Space company is partnering with some other folk who have a little more firepower and experience (with NanoRacks) behind them. (Not a ton, but still)

[Prober]

A space related story...

US army builds its own 3D printer
The US military is working with 3D printers that can produce spare parts for spacecraft.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20269645

http://www.army.mil/article/90814/Smaller__cheaper_3_D_printer_offers_benefits___/

if the Military is using that Printrbot model I fear for the thinking going on.  They can do much better.

[sanman]

I think it's the metal-based 3D printers that should be most relevant for space applications. I don't think you can print truly strong composites, can you?

I'd heard about a US drone called the Polecat being fabricated by 3D printing, and apparently it was made out of composites, but I doubt those would be space qualifiable.

The best 3D printers for high strength metal parts are supposed to be either these Selective Laser Sintering machines, or else the Electron-Beam Melting machines like the ones from Arcam.

[Prober]

I think it's the metal-based 3D printers that should be most relevant for space applications. I don't think you can print truly strong composites, can you?

I'd heard about a US drone called the Polecat being fabricated by 3D printing, and apparently it was made out of composites, but I doubt those would be space qualifiable.

The best 3D printers for high strength metal parts are supposed to be either these Selective Laser Sintering machines, or else the Electron-Beam Melting machines like the ones from Arcam.

composites can be made lighter and stronger then steel. 

[sanman]

composites can be made lighter and stronger then steel. 

Yes, but by 3D printing? And are they as strong as non-printed composites? Do they have optimal strength?

It seems to me that the nature of composites is such that additive manufacturing methods would not be best suited for optimizing their potential.

[go4mars]

Yes, but by 3D printing? And are they as strong as non-printed composites? Do they have optimal strength?

It seems to me that the nature of composites is such that additive manufacturing methods would not be best suited for optimizing their potential.

I'm no expert on composites (not even a novice), but I have seen a giant oven for baking giant composite payload fairings.  If the strengthening comes from the baking, then it seems to me this might be achieved by "add a really tiny bit, flash bake strengthen that bit with a laser, add a little tiny bit more, flash bake strengthen it with a laser, etc". until you've printed out something large and potentially complex in shape.  Right now, as far as I know, the composites need a big metal strongback shape to hold their form in the oven.  3D printing them might allow for new product geometries that right now could only be done in zero-g ovens or through assembly of sub-components. 

Anyone with knowledge of the strengthening and chemistry care to speculate? 

[VatTas]

Here's another twist about 3D printing, that has potential to be applied in space (e.g. on the Moon or even Mars):



Summary of the project:

In a world increasingly concerned with questions of energy production and raw material shortages, this project explores the potential of desert manufacturing, where energy and material occur in abundance.
In this experiment sunlight and sand are used as raw energy and material to produce glass objects using a 3D printing process, that combines natural energy and material with high-tech production technology.
Solar-sintering aims to raise questions about the future of manufacturing and triggers dreams of the full utilisation of the production potential of the world's most efficient energy resource - the sun. Whilst not providing definitive answers, this experiment aims to provide a point of departure for fresh thinking.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25698.0
Edit: added link to earlier discussion about this project

[A_M_Swallow]

Artificial gravity can be applied to the object by rotating the manufacturing equipment.  This will make the ingredients go the right way.  The concentrated light would enter the enclosure at the centre and be aimed using rotating mirrors.

[sanman]

Okay, but high-strength composites usually have long fibers or laminar layers inside them. I don't think any of that could be done with 3D printing.

[KelvinZero]

Here's another twist about 3D printing, that has potential to be applied in space (e.g. on the Moon or even Mars):



Summary of the project:

In a world increasingly concerned with questions of energy production and raw material shortages, this project explores the potential of desert manufacturing, where energy and material occur in abundance.
In this experiment sunlight and sand are used as raw energy and material to produce glass objects using a 3D printing process, that combines natural energy and material with high-tech production technology.
Solar-sintering aims to raise questions about the future of manufacturing and triggers dreams of the full utilisation of the production potential of the world's most efficient energy resource - the sun. Whilst not providing definitive answers, this experiment aims to provide a point of departure for fresh thinking.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25698.0
Edit: added link to earlier discussion about this project

That video is simultaneously awesome, hilarious and sad.

[baldusi]

Okay, but high-strength composites usually have long fibers or laminar layers inside them. I don't think any of that could be done with 3D printing.

The fact that we still don't have the technology, doesn't means you can't make it. You could either have a 3D printer make a liner and then have a CNC machine do the thread turning, or have a fiber layering arm in addition to the material fuser. That we still don't have the technology doesn't means it's impossible.
BTW, if spiders can make their own fiber, it's possible that you could add a thread making head to a 3D printer.

[Prober]

composites can be made lighter and stronger then steel. 

Yes, but by 3D printing? And are they as strong as non-printed composites? Do they have optimal strength?

It seems to me that the nature of composites is such that additive manufacturing methods would not be best suited for optimizing their potential.

Yes by 3D printing. Unlimited only by your imagination.   

Keep in mind we are talking 3D printers in general here.  One is for ISS or no G use.  A lunar or Mars based system would each have their own features. 

I've got designs put on the shelf that would shock a few regarding composites.

[go4mars]

I've got designs put on the shelf that would shock a few regarding composites.

We're listening now!

[mboeller]

new developments:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/engineers_pave_the/

https://www.miun.se/en/Press/Press-releases/Press-archive/2012/Unikt-genombrott-for-tillverkning-av-amorf-metall/

http://www.exmet.se/

[sanman]

ARCAM, electron beam melting (EBM®), a member of the wide family of additive manufacturing technologies, makes it possible to manufacture components of extremely complex shapes within a single process.

Aha!

This Electron-Beam Melting stuff is really a technology to keep an eye on.
It has incredible potential whose surface hasn't even been scratched yet.

http://www.arcam.com/technology/ebm-process.aspx

[grondilu]

ARCAM, electron beam melting (EBM®), a member of the wide family of additive manufacturing technologies, makes it possible to manufacture components of extremely complex shapes within a single process.

Aha!

This Electron-Beam Melting stuff is really a technology to keep an eye on.
It has incredible potential whose surface hasn't even been scratched yet.

http://www.arcam.com/technology/ebm-process.aspx

Indeed.  Considering how small is the wave length of an electron, processing metal with a CNC electron beam is quite a mind-blowing perspective.   That could seriously make a lot of "room in the bottom", if you see what I mean.

PS.  The concept is not much new though, as a quick search showed me:

[robertross]

And something they could do with the material on the moon (not sure if this has been seen by anyone yet):

3-D printer makes parts from moon rock

http://news.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&PageID=/

[Rocket Science]

And something they could do with the material on the moon (not sure if this has been seen by anyone yet):

3-D printer makes parts from moon rock

http://news.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&PageID=/

Pretty neat, thanks for posting it!

[A_M_Swallow]

And something they could do with the material on the moon (not sure if this has been seen by anyone yet):

3-D printer makes parts from moon rock

http://news.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&PageID=/

As well as the items mentioned a larger printer could make tables and chairs.  If it is uncomfortable to sit on then chair legs.  These are items that take up a lot of room and have a significant mass so they are expensive to transport.

A larger printer may be able to make internal walls and doors.  Possibly even pipes and stands for solar arrays.  Big mass savings.

A mobile printer can make landing pads and roads, although we will need to know what the expansion coefficient of the sintered material is.

[Prober]

ARCAM, electron beam melting (EBM®), a member of the wide family of additive manufacturing technologies, makes it possible to manufacture components of extremely complex shapes within a single process.

Aha!

This Electron-Beam Melting stuff is really a technology to keep an eye on.
It has incredible potential whose surface hasn't even been scratched yet.

http://www.arcam.com/technology/ebm-process.aspx

Indeed.  Considering how small is the wave length of an electron, processing metal with a CNC electron beam is quite a mind-blowing perspective.   That could seriously make a lot of "room in the bottom", if you see what I mean.

PS.  The concept is not much new though, as a quick search showed me:

this looks decent....if you open source this it can be advanced into the Reprap and get millions of users working on it.
Prob first at the University level.

[KelvinZero]

And something they could do with the material on the moon (not sure if this has been seen by anyone yet):

3-D printer makes parts from moon rock

http://news.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&PageID=/

In the video the person mentioned 50-100 years before useful.. surely we can do better. I don't think the progress after 50 years in an area like this is even foreseeable let alone a hundred. Where was 3d printing 50 years ago? We are already discussing printing human organs! (Admittedly not from lunar simulant).

[Prober]

And something they could do with the material on the moon (not sure if this has been seen by anyone yet):

3-D printer makes parts from moon rock

http://news.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=34094&PageID=/

In the video the person mentioned 50-100 years before useful.. surely we can do better. I don't think the progress after 50 years in an area like this is even foreseeable let alone a hundred. Where was 3d printing 50 years ago? We are already discussing printing human organs! (Admittedly not from lunar simulant).

maybe thats his time table for a return...just saying.

[sanman]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119114157.htm

Regarding the EBM and amorphous glassy metal alloys - I'm thinking that the US govt should consider overturning patents on vital technologies that aren't spreading fast enough, just like it overturned DuPont's patent on Nylon back in the day.

In our increasingly patent-constrained world, I think that some minimum economic progress and industrial transformation has to occur through benchmarks patent-holders must meet, as the price to be paid for upholding patent laws. Otherwise, patent-holders and the patent system become free riders on the backs of society, holding back the innovation of others.

The amorphous alloy and EBM stuff could radically transform the manufacturing industry, if innovators could unshackled to pursue this to its full potential. The follow-on benefits for space would be obvious, just like how Musk likes to frequently mention friction-stir welding as a big enabler for SpaceX's rocket manufacturing.

[grondilu]

An other Wired article about 3D-printing.

Next Year's 3-D Printers Promise Big Things — Really Big Things

Several techniques mentionned, including:

« Concept Laser

Concept Laser produces high-quality parts by melting metal powders using — surprise — high-powered lasers. Their systems can process precious metals to create jewelry, or high-performance titanium to create turbine components for jet engines. While hobbyist 3-D printers are experimenting with wooden filaments, Concept Laser is making medical-grade products out of stainless steel and pure titanium.
»

Few years ago I read that Titanium is a fantastic metal but one of its disadvantage is that it is very hard to process.  Hopefully 3-D printing could change that.

[sanman]

Here's an interesting article about a satellite manufactured by 3D printing, which aims to be put in orbit:

http://www.wired.com/design/2012/12/3-d-printed-satellite/

[catdlr]

3-D Printers On Moon To Print Space Parts? | Video

Published on Dec 4, 2012 by VideoFromSpace

Engineers at Washington State University are using moon-like material supplied by NASA to print 3-D objects that can be used on the Moon and elsewhere in Space.

Courtesy of Washington State University

[sanman]

If Earthly patent law restrictions are not extended to the Moon and Mars, then all sorts of components and products could be manufactured there, to facilitate the expansion of our industrial manufacturing base off-world.

Imagine a future where most manufacturing is done mainly on the Moon and Mars, leaving the Earth to be cleaner with less pollution...

[sanman]

Arcam, the leader in Electron Beam Melting technology is showing strong growth:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/1065481-positive-news-for-3d-printer-manufacturer-arcam

[grondilu]

Imagine a future where most manufacturing is done mainly on the Moon and Mars, leaving the Earth to be cleaner with less pollution...

Doesn't pollution come much more from consumption rather than production?

[Robotbeat]

Imagine a future where most manufacturing is done mainly on the Moon and Mars, leaving the Earth to be cleaner with less pollution...

Doesn't pollution come much more from consumption rather than production?

What do you mean by pollution? Energy use? It is relatively evenly split.

[meekGee]

If Earthly patent law restrictions are not extended to the Moon and Mars, then all sorts of components and products could be manufactured there, to facilitate the expansion of our industrial manufacturing base off-world.

Imagine a future where most manufacturing is done mainly on the Moon and Mars, leaving the Earth to be cleaner with less pollution...

Sorry to rant, but what does one have to do with the other?

If you're going to ignore patents, you can do it with any fabrication technique.

And if you've got a 3D printer, and instead of buying parts from someone you're using his CAD data, what you might bring into question is copyright law, not patents.  Someone can have a non-patented design that's still his intellectual property.

And besides - why would you think that paying for something puts a barrier into using it on Mars?  I will be glad to sell to you, or license to you the technology for my pump so you can go build it on Mars with any fabrication tool you wish.

I find a disturbing connection between the "we'll just 3D print it" concept, which is a useful industrial paradigm, and the "we don't need to pay for anything and we can bypass IP law" mentality, which can be the downfall of this sector.

[Robotbeat]

Hey, globalism already does that.

And patent and copyright reform does need to be recalibrated to benefit the consumer much more. Over a century of lobbying has made IP law heavily favor established players at the expense of the public good. We shouldn't make this stuff under lock and key forever.

But the idea of Mars (or space in general) as an IP-law-free economic development zone may be a worthwhile idea... What if you could produce patented drugs on Mars or something? That may be value-dense enough to work.

[QuantumG]

Or it might just be completely offtopic.

[meekGee]

Or it might just be completely offtopic.

Yeah, but since 3D printers exist, and will no doubt be utilized on Mars, what else are we going to talk about?

----

I have patents. I can license or sell them. If I decide to make them, they give me some protection.

Every legal principle and system in this world is subject to attack by anyone who is rich enough to pay for enough lawyers, but that does not mean the system is bad.

Apple and Google and Oracle and the rest can fight it out till I'm blue in the face.  For the little guy, having a patent is infinitely better than not having one.

----

As for Mars - I still don't understand how being able to print stuff "for free" makes it easier to do stuff there.  Do you want to encourage Earth-side companies to do business with you?  Then respect their IP.

If you don't have cash, find someone who will front you a license for first 1000 units just so he gets to be the standard product on Mars. Win-win.

[sanman]

If Earthly patent law restrictions are not extended to the Moon and Mars, then all sorts of components and products could be manufactured there, to facilitate the expansion of our industrial manufacturing base off-world.

Imagine a future where most manufacturing is done mainly on the Moon and Mars, leaving the Earth to be cleaner with less pollution...

Sorry to rant, but what does one have to do with the other?

If you're going to ignore patents, you can do it with any fabrication technique.

Yes, but 3D printing is a fabrication technique that's much easier to use off-world, since it involved the least conversion steps. You're going from near-raw materials to near-finished product in one swoop.

I'm sayingt that not having to pay royalties when off-world could help incentivize the migration of manufacturing off-world (at least 3D manufacturing)

And if you've got a 3D printer, and instead of buying parts from someone you're using his CAD data, what you might bring into question is copyright law, not patents.  Someone can have a non-patented design that's still his intellectual property.

Okay, copyright, patent, IP, whatever. Let's not split hairs. I'm talking about incentivization by offering shortcuts around existing constraints.

And besides - why would you think that paying for something puts a barrier into using it on Mars?  I will be glad to sell to you, or license to you the technology for my pump so you can go build it on Mars with any fabrication tool you wish.

I find a disturbing connection between the "we'll just 3D print it" concept, which is a useful industrial paradigm, and the "we don't need to pay for anything and we can bypass IP law" mentality, which can be the downfall of this sector.

It would be downfall if it brought no return with it, but helping to migrate infastructure off-world would be the return I'm talking about.

[Robotbeat]

Or it might just be completely offtopic.

Yeah, but since 3D printers exist, and will no doubt be utilized on Mars, what else are we going to talk about?

----

I have patents. I can license or sell them. If I decide to make them, they give me some protection.

Every legal principle and system in this world is subject to attack by anyone who is rich enough to pay for enough lawyers, but that does not mean the system is bad.

Apple and Google and Oracle and the rest can fight it out till I'm blue in the face.  For the little guy, having a patent is infinitely better than not having one.

----

As for Mars - I still don't understand how being able to print stuff "for free" makes it easier to do stuff there.  Do you want to encourage Earth-side companies to do business with you?  Then respect their IP.

If you don't have cash, find someone who will front you a license for first 1000 units just so he gets to be the standard product on Mars. Win-win.

How does it make it easier? Well, it gives them something to export to Earth at a profit. And it means they can produce the stuff they need to survive without having to pay someone an artificial fee... And make no bones about it, Intellectual property is an ENTIRELY artificial construct, made by govt fiat, hopefully by a democratic one so it suits the will of the citizens and the public good. It is designed to incentivize innovation, but nowadays it just as often hampers it. If the public sees fit to exempt Mars from IP encumbrance, it would incentivize Martian development, a net plus for humanity.

[meekGee]

Or it might just be completely offtopic.

Yeah, but since 3D printers exist, and will no doubt be utilized on Mars, what else are we going to talk about?

----

I have patents. I can license or sell them. If I decide to make them, they give me some protection.

Every legal principle and system in this world is subject to attack by anyone who is rich enough to pay for enough lawyers, but that does not mean the system is bad.

Apple and Google and Oracle and the rest can fight it out till I'm blue in the face.  For the little guy, having a patent is infinitely better than not having one.

----

As for Mars - I still don't understand how being able to print stuff "for free" makes it easier to do stuff there.  Do you want to encourage Earth-side companies to do business with you?  Then respect their IP.

If you don't have cash, find someone who will front you a license for first 1000 units just so he gets to be the standard product on Mars. Win-win.

How does it make it easier? Well, it gives them something to export to Earth at a profit. And it means they can produce the stuff they need to survive without having to pay someone an artificial fee... And make no bones about it, Intellectual property is an ENTIRELY artificial construct, made by govt fiat, hopefully by a democratic one so it suits the will of the citizens and the public good. It is designed to incentivize innovation, but nowadays it just as often hampers it. If the public sees fit to exempt Mars from IP encumbrance, it would incentivize Martian development, a net plus for humanity.

That's an empty battle cry - the fact that big corps sue each other out of existence doesn't mean patents don't incentivise innovation.  If you're a little gut with an innovation, who but the patent system is on your side?

I just invented a new type of water pump, let's say.  Can you show me how the patent system hurts me?  Specifically?

The people who get hurt by IP law are those that want to 3D print stuff for free and call it innovation... 

Anyway - how are you going to export it to Earth? Won't it be cheaper to just make it on earth?   And even if you're granted some waiver to print stuff on Mars, you still can't sell it here, since IP law still hold on earth.

[sanman]

Well, you don't necessarily have to sell IP-exempted items on Earth. You might use IP-exempted items to manufacture other stuff that you would sell on Earth. Or you might use IP-exempted items/tech to develop space faster, like infrastructure. The point is that you make it easier to do things in space as compared to Earth, and that will incentivize the economy to grow outward into space.

[meekGee]

Or you might use IP-exempted items/tech to develop space faster, like infrastructure.

How is it any faster?  Paying for stuff doesn't slow anything down.

I don't like the idea of basing the Martian economy on circumventing IP law using 3D printers.

Mars will only thrive if it offers Earth people and businesses the opportunity to stake claims and grow together with the colony. Why would they do it if they know that their investment would be into a "one floppy world"?

You want people to know that it is worth their effort to invent all sorts of gadgets because they can make money selling them and not worry that a larger corporation will knock them out of the market just because it is big.  IP law is there for exactly that reason and it does this job relatively well.

[Chris Bergin]

Careful no yo move away from 3D printers guys.

[davidpaul]

Hi to Everyone,
This is David Paul form Australia. I would like to share some of my experience about 3D printer with this community. Makerbot is the amazing technology for 3D printers. Similar to those brands, some valuable 3D printer companies are available. The notable company is that 3Dstuffmakers http://www.3dstuffmaker.com/. 3Dstuffmaker follows the same technology in which makerbot has been using. They offer printers at very affordable price than other brands and it has large print area.

[QuantumG]

Welcome to the forum!

[sanman]

Btw, isn't there some new super-sized 3D printer called KamerMaker which can make very large plastic pieces, including even room-sized ones?

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/51932/the-kamermaker-by-dus-portably-prints-3d-pavilions/#.UNUCYvIgfoY





The Objet 1000 printer is pretty huge too:

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681051/this-3-d-printer-can-print-you-an-entire-bike

[sanman]

Btw, what kind of experience or background is good for a career in additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping?

[Robotbeat]

Btw, isn't there some new super-sized 3D printer called KamerMaker which can make very large plastic pieces, including even room-sized ones?

http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/51932/the-kamermaker-by-dus-portably-prints-3d-pavilions/#.UNUCYvIgfoY





The Objet 1000 printer is pretty huge too:

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1681051/this-3-d-printer-can-print-you-an-entire-bike

Now that's what I'm talking about! Really cool. Print resolution looks really low, but that means it can print stuff in a jiffy! Print shovels, pots for plants, perhaps gaskets if printing with silicone, etc. Sweet.


As far as what requirements you'd need, well, Most of the stuff is probably design and drafting related, so if you learn how to drive CAD pretty well, you're good. Take a drafting course or two and get started! Or, just teach yourself. I once taught at a for-profit drafting school for a semester, and I recommend going to a community college instead.

[alexterrell]

It should be easy to scale up a 3d printer to almost any size - at some loss of resolution. You could also add multiple heads to increase speed of production with very little weight gain. In theory you could build a dome on Mars or a torus station in orbit.

More tricky is getting the right strength of material. Most 3d printers use ABS  or specialised weak plastics with no fibres. If you could have a head that lays down the plastic and another one that can position fibres that would be something. The ultimate would be something that can lay a mesh of carbon nanotubes. Failing that, print a very thin structure, then wrap high tensile cables (perhaps in tape form) around it, then more plastic layers.

You could also have a very large framework with different heads printing and laser-sintering steel for composite structures.

[sanman]

CEO of Maketbot claims NASA is their biggest customer:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelwolf/2013/01/12/how-3d-printing-is-now-helping-nasa-get-to-space/

[Prober]

Btw, what kind of experience or background is good for a career in additive manufacturing or rapid prototyping?

this is wide open atm, but some quick thoughts.

read reprap.org materials & maybe build/buy an cheap printer for yourself.

from there you can engineer the printers or go in several other directions.  Many of the small firms are bursting at the seams for help and interns are welcome. 

so do your research and find the direction you wish to go.

[baldusi]

Plastic additive is a very different beast than metal additive. And machining experience is needed anyways. Thing like runoff, repeatability, thermal conditioning, piece holding, tool interference, etc are the same. You also need to understand the limitations of needing support structures, for example.
And once you go into metal and such, you need to understand grain, thermal treatment, energy output, heat rejection, etc.

[thydusk666]

Deep Space Industries http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/01/21/deep-space-industries-announces-fleet-of-asteroid-hunting-spacecraft/

The company has a patent-pending technology called the MicroGravity Foundry to transform raw asteroid material into complex metal parts.  The MicroGravity Foundry is a 3D printer that uses lasers to draw patterns in a nickel-charged gas medium, causing the nickel to be deposited in precise patterns.

“The MicroGravity Foundry is the first 3D printer that creates high-density high-strength metal components even in zero gravity,” said Stephen Covey, a co-Founder of DSI and inventor of the process. “Other metal 3D printers sinter powdered metal, which requires a gravity field and leaves a porous structure, or they use low-melting point metals with less strength.”

[sanman]

Actually, there seem to be a whole flurry of articles that have just come out on it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9819301/Space-firm-plans-to-mine-asteroids.html

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/01/22/deep_space_industries_asteroid_mining/

http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112768238/asteroid-mining-firefly-spacecraft-deep-space-industries-012213/

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21/16627863-deep-space-industries-will-venture-into-asteroid-mining-marketplace

Hmm, so this Microgravity Foundry thing seems to use a novel design, which can work with metal in gaseous form to turn it into solid metal parts. I guess a gas can be more easily handled than solid specks of powder in zero-gravity. I remember reading about some technology that could take material in plasma form and turn it into precisely shaped particle specks with very finely tuned properties. They could even make particles with different layers each having different properties. Anybody remember that?



Seems like their concept art depicts a mining plant mounted on a large asteroid, which is then digging out material and converting it into gas. The gas is then piped over to some large space station structure that's being built nearby, presumably with local 3D printers converting that gas back into metal structural parts for the space station under construction.

Gee, maybe this calls for another look at that DeathStar petition...

[sanman]

FYI - is anybody aware that there's a RepRap Electron Beam Melting 3D Printer being worked on?

http://reprap.org/wiki/MetalicaRap

The project seems to have stalled recently, due to power supply cost. But still, it seems like quite a bold initiative. Gee, if this ever takes off, it'll put firearms manufacturers out of business! 

[SpacexULA]

FYI - is anybody aware that there's a RepRap Electron Beam Melting 3D Printer being worked on?

http://reprap.org/wiki/MetalicaRap

The project seems to have stalled recently, due to power supply cost. But still, it seems like quite a bold initiative. Gee, if this ever takes off, it'll put firearms manufacturers out of business! 

Yea Rapatan has been working on that page for years now.  IMHO it's not going to come of anything, but love to see the work.

[sanman]

Yea Rapatan has been working on that page for years now.  IMHO it's not going to come of anything, but love to see the work.

Well, why do you say nothing will come of it? I'd like to understand what the fundamental roadblock is. If this stuff like Makerbot, RepRap, and all these other new cheapster 3D printers are coming out, then what's the fundamental limitation that keeps Electron Beam Melting away from the masses?

http://forums.reprap.org/list.php?215

http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?215,81209

http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?215,141655

When it came to building cheaper rocket engines, people said the turbopump was the most difficult expense. What are the most cost-prohibitive components in an Electron Beam Melting printer apparatus? What are the key challenges and obstacles to lowering the costs?

[sanman]

Actually, I was thinking that Electron Beam Melting 3D printers could be used to make very large metal parts on the Moon, because this could be done openly in the lunar vacuum.

Anyway, here's a video of a small plane made with 3D printing:

[SpacexULA]

Well, why do you say nothing will come of it? I'd like to understand what the fundamental roadblock is. If this stuff like Makerbot, RepRap, and all these other new cheapster 3D printers are coming out, then what's the fundamental limitation that keeps Electron Beam Melting away from the masses?

http://forums.reprap.org/list.php?215

http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?215,81209

http://forums.reprap.org/read.php?215,141655

When it came to building cheaper rocket engines, people said the turbopump was the most difficult expense. What are the most cost-prohibitive components in an Electron Beam Melting printer apparatus? What are the key challenges and obstacles to lowering the costs?

Part of it is that metal sintering is elementally a harder nut to crack and get high quality prints than simple plastic FDM, and part of it is I have been dealing with this guy for years now.

To be honest FDM has only been delayed to market for low end 3d printers by patents, the RepRap and Makerbots you see now could have fully been in the market 15 years ago if patents had not stopped them. 

Building a top of the line FDM 3d printer for around $800 is easy, laser sintering is going to be challenging to do for less than $5k, and at that price point just for the hardware, it's right out of the realm of most tinkerers.

[sanman]

Well, photocopiers are pretty expensive and sophisticated equipment too, but they're all over the place. What cannot be bought can be leased.

Heavy equipment like CNC lathes, etc are also expensive, and yet they're affordable to machine shops and small businesses. One day the EBM printer could join the small workshop alongside these other machines, if not replacing them outright.

Another thing in the news recently, was the project by some Dutch artist to create a large house using a big 3D printer:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/22/tech/innovation/building-3-d-printer/index.html

I can't help but notice how existing concrete boom pump technology already looks very similar to the promised future large 3D printers which will one day print out houses or lunar bases. This technology has been around for over a half-century. All it needs is just a printhead with trowel, and more precise control systems to become a full-fledged 3D mega-printer.

[sanman]

Here's something else I came across, in regards to printing composite parts through the FDM additive method:

http://sbir.gsfc.nasa.gov/SBIR/abstracts/11/sttr/phase1/STTR-11-1-T9.01-9764.html

http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?section_id=1392&doc_id=248401&dfpPParams=ind_183,industry_auto,industry_aero,bid_27,aid_248401&dfpLayout=blog

FDM is already used for the easy simple stuff, so why not try to extend it to more complex materials? The elimination of autoclaving could make things much easier.

[robertross]

Check this out:

http://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/design-engineering/cad-cam/architecture-firm-esa-to-explore-3d-printing-a-moon-base-93754

[Solman]

Thanks for posting that link - its also discussed on the "Missions to the Moon" thread but the articles linked there don't mention an inflated dome IIRC for scaffolding.
In thinking about this I wonder why not just cover the inflated dome that serves for scaffolding with loose regolith? The problem for an air filled  Lunar dome is holding it down not supporting it after all. If desired a thin sintered layer could cover the surface of the loose regolith layer but with no rain or atmosphere even that isn't needed I suppose.
 
 
 

[A_M_Swallow]

Thanks for posting that link - its also discussed on the "Missions to the Moon" thread but the articles linked there don't mention an inflated dome IIRC for scaffolding.
In thinking about this I wonder why not just cover the inflated dome that serves for scaffolding with loose regolith? The problem for an air filled  Lunar dome is holding it down not supporting it after all. If desired a thin sintered layer could cover the surface of the loose regolith layer but with no rain or atmosphere even that isn't needed I suppose.

A thick layer of regolith can be used as a barrier against radiation.

[Solman]

Thanks for posting that link - its also discussed on the "Missions to the Moon" thread but the articles linked there don't mention an inflated dome IIRC for scaffolding.
In thinking about this I wonder why not just cover the inflated dome that serves for scaffolding with loose regolith? The problem for an air filled  Lunar dome is holding it down not supporting it after all. If desired a thin sintered layer could cover the surface of the loose regolith layer but with no rain or atmosphere even that isn't needed I suppose.

A thick layer of regolith can be used as a barrier against radiation.

So it holds the dome down and protects occupants from radiation so why do you need any 3D printing?
 Might be useful for upper floors and partition walls but as these would be in a shirtsleeve environment the astronauts could do the assembly.
 Sintered blocks are a possibility for the interior and would be easier than making a type of salt and magnesium oxide by ISRU IMO.

[A_M_Swallow]

Thanks for posting that link - its also discussed on the "Missions to the Moon" thread but the articles linked there don't mention an inflated dome IIRC for scaffolding.
In thinking about this I wonder why not just cover the inflated dome that serves for scaffolding with loose regolith? The problem for an air filled  Lunar dome is holding it down not supporting it after all. If desired a thin sintered layer could cover the surface of the loose regolith layer but with no rain or atmosphere even that isn't needed I suppose.

A thick layer of regolith can be used as a barrier against radiation.

So it holds the dome down and protects occupants from radiation so why do you need any 3D printing?
 Might be useful for upper floors and partition walls but as these would be in a shirtsleeve environment the astronauts could do the assembly.
 Sintered blocks are a possibility for the interior and would be easier than making a type of salt and magnesium oxide by ISRU IMO.

The buildings need to be airtight so a printer or a sinterer are need to glue the dust particles together.

[Tass]

The buildings need to be airtight so a printer or a sinterer are need to glue the dust particles together.

You'd probably still need a plastic liner.

[sanman]

Inflatable dome inside a lava tube or cavern would be nicest and easiest, imho.

Meanwhile, here's another website for Contour Crafting which I just came across - lots to read there:

http://rs20.abstractdns.com/~contourc/contourcrafting/

It would be neat if robots could be used on their own to construct infrastructure on the Moon in advance of any human arrival. The Russians have said they'd like to establish a robot base on the Moon, and maybe that's the most sensible approach, since with robots you're not as dependent on follow-through as you are with human beings in the loop.

[Robert Thompson]

http://www.space-travel.com/reports/The_Future_of_Exploration_Starts_With_3D_Printing_999.html
The Future of Exploration Starts With 3-D Printing by Bill Hubscher for Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville AL (SPX) Mar 26, 2013

... "Traditionally, the forming, machining and welding of this baffle would take nine to ten months," said Andy Hardin, SLS subsystem manager for liquid engines.

"After creating the part using computer-aided design, we built this baffle with SLM in nine days, obviously significant time and cost savings. The lack of a traditional weld also makes this part more structurally sound." ...

[Robert Thompson]

Skylar Tibbits: The emergence of "4D printing"

[ClaytonBirchenough]

Thinking about the title for a little, I realized (kind of I think?) how 3d printing could be applicable to space activities/exploration. You could send up a block of plastic that the 3d printers use, and print large structures that could not be launched from Earth because of the restraints on the sise of PLFs. Not sure how this might apply, but seems like it could fit in somehow to space activities/exploration. Sorry, got excited for a minute 

[sanman]

Apparently posting to the internet can violate ITAR, so if you ever come up with any improved rocket technology, then don't post it online:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/05/09/state-department-demands-takedown-of-3d-printable-gun-for-possible-export-control-violation/

[QuantumG]

1. duh
2. offtopic

Edit: actually, not necessarily duh, as ITAR doesn't actually cover non-repeating weapons! (at least not at this caliber) But still offtopic

[Blackstar]

Thinking about the title for a little, I realized (kind of I think?) how 3d printing could be applicable to space activities/exploration. You could send up a block of plastic that the 3d printers use, and print large structures that could not be launched from Earth because of the restraints on the sise of PLFs. Not sure how this might apply, but seems like it could fit in somehow to space activities/exploration. Sorry, got excited for a minute 

Don't get over-excited (that's one of the problems with 3D printing--everybody gets woozy thinking about it and loses all sense of reality).

But there are potential benefits in ways that you would not immediately expect. For example, what if you built a satellite and then instead of designing the most delicate structures (like solar arrays) to be able to withstand the rigors of launch, you simply printed them in space and had the spacecraft rendezvous with the printer/factory? How would that affect your mass requirements?

Interesting, no? Maybe somebody should look into these issues.

[go4mars]

For example, what if you built a satellite and then instead of designing the most delicate structures (like solar arrays) to be able to withstand the rigors of launch, you simply printed them in space and had the spacecraft rendezvous with the printer/factory? How would that affect your mass requirements?

That's a great idea.  It makes wonder if solar sails and reflectors would be easier and lighter to "make" than to unpack as well.  Even akward structures like long trusses or hoop-ribs might benefit.            Really really long members for laser-sintered radio antennas.   
 
Lordy, maybe even giant fresnel lenses for in-space telescopes! 

[brtbrt]

For example, what if you built a satellite and then instead of designing the most delicate structures (like solar arrays) to be able to withstand the rigors of launch, you simply printed them in space and had the spacecraft rendezvous with the printer/factory? How would that affect your mass requirements?

That's a great idea.  It makes wonder if solar sails and reflectors would be easier and lighter to "make" than to unpack as well.  Even akward structures like long trusses or hoop-ribs might benefit.            Really really long members for laser-sintered radio antennas.   
 
Lordy, maybe even giant fresnel lenses for in-space telescopes! 

I agree, large, sparse structures would match well with certain 3D printer topologies. But laser sintering is probably not a technology that's likely to be used soon - it relies on the powder to stay in the powder bed, which needs at least a small force to keep it down.

My guess is that either some form of filament deposition might work better.

An interesting question will be what to do with all the heat coming out of the melt zone, especially for metal deposition. Hard to dissipate that much heat in vacuum.

[go4mars]

it relies on the powder to stay in the powder bed, which needs at least a small force to keep it down.

Hard to dissipate that much heat in vacuum.

Spinning pressurized chamber?  Like a bigelow thing.

some form of filament deposition might work better.

Agreed.

[brtbrt]

Spinning pressurized chamber?  Like a bigelow thing.

I think DSI Foundry has potential: http://deepspaceindustries.com/explore/

[kevin-rf]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

[Robert Thompson]

http://inmoov.blogspot.com/

For your Battle Droid needs.

[JohnFornaro]

What about a giant 3D printer to create a parallel universe?

[grondilu]

« A More Efficient Jet Engine Is Made from Lighter Parts, Some 3-D Printed »

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/514656/a-more-efficient-jet-engine-is-made-from-lighter-parts-some-3-d-printed/

[Prober]

NASA grant $125K to fund 3D food printer

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130521-nasa-grant-to-fund-3d-food-printer.html

[guckyfan]

NASA grant $125K to fund 3D food printer

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130521-nasa-grant-to-fund-3d-food-printer.html

In the video they mention algae among other powders as material for food printing. As algae are promising for growing food on mars I will post this in the Mars section.

[R7]

it relies on the powder to stay in the powder bed, which needs at least a small force to keep it down.

Hard to dissipate that much heat in vacuum.

Spinning pressurized chamber?  Like a bigelow thing.

Magnetize? Electrostatic force? Not really that hard to dissipate the heat radiatively; high temperatures, rough sintered surface has high emissivity.

What about a giant 3D printer to create a parallel universe?

Does it have to be giant? Print it thin and long, then roll it up. Challenge to find a computer with parallel port 

[Prober]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

that's the old style hard way......look at this project someone did as a hobby with open 3D printers.   http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:91464     It's out there, so someone will run with it, automate it and sky's the limit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1yOf6Ba1ts&feature=youtu.be

[baldusi]

Does it have to be giant? Print it thin and long, then roll it up. Challenge to find a computer with parallel port 

Most PC controlled CNC printers use a parallel port. They use each pair of pins to sand the steps and signal the stops and activate the cutting fluid pump. It's quite a hassle to find 5V PCI/PCIe parallet port adapters, though.

[mgfitter]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?

-MG.

[baldusi]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?

-MG.

I know there are printers that do sinthering with ceramics/glass. I guess it should work in space. But its a very particular question. I would recommend that you also research about the radiation effects on different materials.

[Prober]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?

-MG.

I know there are printers that do sinthering with ceramics/glass. I guess it should work in space. But its a very particular question. I would recommend that you also research about the radiation effects on different materials.

several printers that use heated plastic were developed years ago to work in no gravity.

[SpacexULA]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?
-MG.

Dr. Adrian Bowyer, the founder of RepRap (and one of by bosses) tested some of that years ago


http://www.madeinspace.us/3d-printers-tested-in-zero-gravity flew around 6 difference fdm machines on a parabolic flight, again with no effect to print quality.

As far polymers in space, everything I have ever read has said that increase radiation makes plastic go brittle much much quicker. 

[go4mars]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?

-MG.

I know there are printers that do sinthering with ceramics/glass. I guess it should work in space. But its a very particular question. I would recommend that you also research about the radiation effects on different materials.

I would like to hear more about this.  I am trying to find a "relatively" inexpensive printer that makes objects that hold their structure up to 300 degrees celcius.  If you know of one, I would love to hear about it. 

Thanks in advance. 

[Prober]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?
-MG.

Dr. Adrian Bowyer, the founder of RepRap (and one of by bosses) tested some of that years ago


http://www.madeinspace.us/3d-printers-tested-in-zero-gravity flew around 6 difference fdm machines on a parabolic flight, again with no effect to print quality.

As far polymers in space, everything I have ever read has said that increase radiation makes plastic go brittle much much quicker. 

this is another design that was just recently made from the Delta printer design.
 

[Prober]

Forgive the dumb question, but are there any non-metallic 3D printed materials that survive & perform well in the harsh space environment without coatings/coverings?

-MG.

I know there are printers that do sinthering with ceramics/glass. I guess it should work in space. But its a very particular question. I would recommend that you also research about the radiation effects on different materials.

I would like to hear more about this.  I am trying to find a "relatively" inexpensive printer that makes objects that hold their structure up to 300 degrees celcius.  If you know of one, I would love to hear about it. 

Thanks in advance. 

you might want to combine different materials for your project.  The latest advance is a stainless steel nozzle that allows for higher temp. printing materials.   Nylon, polycarbonate and a few other materials are now tested and available as well as wood filament.   
 
Many new plastics can be used, just need to experiment.

[Lar]

Note that something working (to produce parts) in zero g is not the same as producing parts that work well in vacuum, or that work well in a high radiation environment. I think some plastics may  deteriorate if not in an atmosphere.

The former is a printer feature. The latter two are materials printed features.

[docmordrid]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

e. A 3D printer for food -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/nasa-asks-could-3-d-printed-food-fuel-a-mission-to-mars/2013/05/21/76fc3668-c224-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html

[Rocket Science]

A variety of 3D printers are likely to be needed in aerospace.

a. A very high precision 3D printer.
b. A very large 3D printer.
c. A 3D that is both large and has a very high precision.  (derived from both a and b.)
d. A 3D printer that uses regolith.

e. A 3D printer for food -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/nasa-asks-could-3-d-printed-food-fuel-a-mission-to-mars/2013/05/21/76fc3668-c224-11e2-914f-a7aba60512a7_story.html

Neat study doc, who needs takeout anymore...

[Prober]

another type of 3D type Printer
#

[A_M_Swallow]

another type of 3D type Printer
{snip image}

That looks like the sort of thing to build the skeleton of a container.
It may also produce a wiring harness by replacing the liquid with a roll of electrical wire.

[cordwainer]

If its laying down one substrate after another like building a wall or a shroud of fabric I don't see gravity being an issue. You might use 3D printers to make inflatable TransHabs, mylar reflectors/solar sails, insulation foam or materials for a radiator panel.

[jabe]

curious...shouldn't a 3-d printer theoritcally be able to print a workable electric motor and have it work without modification?
jb

[Prober]

curious...shouldn't a 3-d printer theoritcally be able to print a workable electric motor and have it work without modification?
jb

theoretically, yes   The reprap (www.reprap.com) concept started out around 2007 or so to reproduce or printout 100% of the parts of another 3d printer.   This would include stepper motors, electronics etc.

[Prober]

just bumped into this video while researching something else.
 
This is a test of PLA in Liquid Nitrogen contained within 3D printed mini-Dewar.
 
Not bad for a start.
 

 

[sanman]

another type of 3D type Printer
{snip image}

That looks like the sort of thing to build the skeleton of a container.
It may also produce a wiring harness by replacing the liquid with a roll of electrical wire.

That's what I was thinking too.

Could such tensile structures perhaps become the skeletal framework to which flexible envelopes could be attached, to create pressure vessels?
Or could such envelopes be inflated first to give them the right shape, and then these solid ribs could later be printed onto them?
What would be the best approach?

Alternatively, what about printing large lattice, scaffold, or truss structures? Could it be possible to print a radio tower or boom?

Seems to me that the curvilinear segments would only be advantageous for pressure vessel containers, whereas for other load-bearing structures like trusses or latticework it should stick to just printing basic linear segments.

[Prober]

 
a new 3D printer design, with new features..
 
 
 
designer video 

[manboy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jwxn6EzW84#at=77

[grondilu]

NASA Tests Limits of 3-D Printing with Powerful Rocket Engine Check

The largest 3-D printed rocket engine component NASA ever has tested blazed to life Thursday, Aug. 22 during an engine firing that generated a record 20,000 pounds of thrust.
[...]
This successful test of a 3-D printed rocket injector brings NASA significantly closer to proving this innovative technology can be used to reduce the cost of flight hardware," said Chris Singer, the director of the Engineering Directorate at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville Ala.

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/3d-printed-rocket-injector.html#.UhzlQyF4V0s

[Robotbeat]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

Hardly. Parts have been 3d printed for aerospace applications in the States for quite a while, now.

[Asteroza]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

Hardly. Parts have been 3d printed for aerospace applications in the States for quite a while, now.

The major difference is the J-15 titanium components are used in structurally critical areas, a commitment US makers have largely not committed to yet.

[Robotbeat]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

Hardly. Parts have been 3d printed for aerospace applications in the States for quite a while, now.

The major difference is the J-15 titanium components are used in structurally critical areas, a commitment US makers have largely not committed to yet.

Isn't a major difference. This is nothing like leap-frog, but it's fun to use those kind of statements.

[baldusi]

China using 3D printers for titanium aerospace parts, namely J-15 fighter and Comac C919 passenger jet.

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130304-j-15-chief-architect-3d-printing-used-in-developing-new-fighter-jet.html

So that is the chill one gets when other guy leap frogs you.

Hardly. Parts have been 3d printed for aerospace applications in the States for quite a while, now.

The major difference is the J-15 titanium components are used in structurally critical areas, a commitment US makers have largely not committed to yet.

The F-35 uses 3D printed structural element on the "vertical" stabilizers.

[A_M_Swallow]

A 3D printer able to make the walls of an entire building.

[Tywin]

Somebody know, which 3D printing companies are the best in the actuality for aerospace structures?

Any big improvement in this years in this machines?

[JulesVerneATV]

NASA's 3D-printable metal could make air travel cheaper and faster for everyone
https://www.earth.com/news/nasa-created-3d-printable-metal-grx-810-that-can-withstand-extreme-temperatures/

[JulesVerneATV]

New nuclear era: 3D printing cuts build times as NASA preps Moon reactor
https://www.techspot.com/news/108956-new-nuclear-era-3d-printing-cuts-build-times.html

A new era for nuclear technology is emerging at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and space exploration. The US is leveraging 3D printing to build nuclear reactor components on Earth, while also accelerating plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the Moon by 2030.

One clear example of this progress is the work underway at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, where researchers and industry partners have made significant strides in using large-scale 3D printing to produce high-precision molds for casting complex concrete structures in nuclear reactors.

The technique, tested in collaboration with Kairos Power and Barnard Construction for the Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor, has dramatically shortened construction timelines – reducing tasks that once took weeks to just a few days. According to the Department of Energy, these 3D-printed composite forms have been especially valuable for fabricating radiation shielding and other critical components with intricate geometries.

[Eric Hedman]

Somebody know, which 3D printing companies are the best in the actuality for aerospace structures?

Any big improvement in this years in this machines?

I get the University of Wisconsin Madison Engineering Newsletter.  The have developed a new nano-scale 3D printer that can precisely place a droplet of material much smaller than the nozzle accurately.  It didn't say what kind of material it can print.  But they did say it works in micro-gravity if I remember correctly.  You are looking at sub micron accuracy in building a 3D model.  IF it can take a wide range of material, it opens up some interesting possibilities.