[ Additive Manufacturing ] space exploration . It paves the way for manufacturing more complex metallic structures in space . That is a key asset for securing exploration of Moon and Mars .”
[ Additive Manufacturing ] space exploration . It paves the way for manufacturing more complex metallic structures in space . That is a key asset for securing exploration of Moon and Mars .”
Stainless steel material of choice The printer will use a type of stainlesssteel commonly used in medical implants and water treatment due to its good resistance to corrosion . The stainless-steel wire is fed into the printing area , which is heated by a highpower laser , about a million times time more powerful than the average laser pointer . As the wire dips into the melt pool , the end of the wire melts and metal is then added to the print . ESA materials engineer Advenit Makaya from the ESA ’ s Directorate of Technology , Engineering and Quality , provided technical support to the project : “ The melt pool of the print process is very small , in the order of a millimetre across , so that the liquid metal ’ s surface tension holds it securely in place in weightlessness . Even so , the melting point of stainless steel is about 1400 ° C so the printer operates within a fully sealed box , preventing excess heat or fumes from reaching the crew of the Space Station . And before the print process begins the printer ’ s internal oxygen atmosphere has to be vented to space , replaced by nitrogen – the hot stainless steel would oxidise if it became exposed to the oxygen .”
Shapes and sizes Four interesting shapes have been chosen to test the performance of the Metal 3D printer . These first objects will be compared to the same shapes printed on ground , called reference prints , to see how the space environment affects the printing process . The four prints are all smaller than a soda can in size , weigh less than 250 g per print , and take two to four weeks to print . The scheduled print time is limited to four hours daily , due to noise regulations on the Space Station – the printer ’ s fans and motor of the printer are relatively noisy . Once a shape has been printed , Andreas will remove it from the printer and pack it for safe travel back to Earth for processing and analysis , to understand the differences in printing quality and performance in space , as opposed to Earth .
The metal 3D printer will be the first time to print in metal on the International Space Station . It was launched on NG-20 on 30 January 2024 . Photo © Airbus Space and Defence SAS
One reference and 0xg print , which is part of a dedicated tool , will go to the European Astronaut Centre ( EAC ) in Cologne , Germany . Another two will be headed to the technical heart of ESA , the European Space Research and Technology Centre ( ESTEC ), where a team at the Materials and Electrical Components Laboratory awaits the samples for macro and micro analysis of the printed parts . The final print will go to the Technical University of Denmark ( DTU ) who proposed its shape and will investigate its thermal properties in support of e . g . future antenna alignment .
Preparing for the future “ As a technology demonstration project , our aim is to prove the potential of metal 3D printing in space ,” adds Rob . “ We ’ ve already learned a lot getting to this point and hope to learn a lot more , on the way to making in-space manufacturing and assembly a practical proposition .” One of ESA ’ s goals for future development is to create a circular space economy and recycle materials in orbit to allow for a better use of resources . One way would be to repurpose bits from old satellites into new tools or structures . The 3D printer would eliminate the need to send a tool up with a rocket and allow the astronauts to print the needed parts in orbit . Tommaso Ghidini , Head of the Mechanical Department at ESA , notes : “ Metal 3D in space printing is a promising capability to support future exploration activities , but also beyond , to contribute to more sustainable space activities , through in-situ manufacturing , repair and perhaps recycling of space structures , for a wide range of applications . This includes in-orbit large infrastructure manufacturing and assembly as well as planetary long-term human settlement . These aspects are key focuses in ESA ’ s upcoming technology cross-cutting initiatives .” Thomas Rohr , overseeing ESA ’ s Materials and Processes Section , adds : “ This technology demonstration , showcasing the processing of metallic materials in microgravity , paves the way for future endeavours to manufacture infrastructure beyond the confines of Earth .”
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