Nasa plans to launch 3D printer to help astronauts manufacture spare parts

Wednesday, October 2nd 2013 - 07:58 UTC

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The United States space agency Nasa is planning to launch a 3D printer into space next year to help astronauts manufacture spare parts and tools in zero gravity. It will be the first time a 3D printer has been used in space and could help reduce the costs of future missions. Read full article

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ChrisR
I bet the bottles of “ink” are expensive though.
Oct 02nd, 2013 - 04:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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DanyBerger
@ChrisR

The materials are not expensive at all. ABSLike Printing Grade filament cost range from U$s38 to U$s 50 2 pounds for FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling).

But this works for gravity so cannot be used in space without gravity as this article says.

Then you have SLA (stereolithography) that use DLP (digital light processing) that solidified micronised photosensitive powder resins or liquid resins.

Again will be tough to get this element not floating in 0 gravity environment. What do you think?

Then you have to have into account that while FDM can reproduce a model with 90% of durability and characteristics of an injected plastic part. SLA needs a secondary process to cure the model with additives to harden the model and to archive certain resistance to be a functional model.

So nothing new this have been around since long time ago in fact you can have your own SLA printer at home for less than U$s 5000 or your FDM printer for less than U$s2000 in Argentina.

SLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU4KrQBTQzI

FDM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU4KrQBTQzI

SYL mate
Oct 03rd, 2013 - 11:34 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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A_Voice
http://www.maplin.co.uk/3d-printer-kit-velleman-k8200-783902

.....or here for £699.99
.......cartridge cost £29.99
Oct 03rd, 2013 - 12:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ChrisR
@ 2 DanyBerger

Excellent post, thank you for your thoughts, but I was really interested in the laser-melted titanium and nickel-chromium powders which are now being used to build much stronger components and therefore possibly of wider use.

40 years ago (I hate getting old) I helped develop metal gearsets that could be used as moulded using the sintering process but that got overtaken by ceramic coating advances in the lost wax process, neither of which could be used in space for similar reasons to your comments.

Zero gravity can be overcome if the particles used in the printing react to magnets and this might be what NASA is working on. I was thinking along the lines of a magnetic field being aligned by coils at right angles to the field. It’s a bit difficult to see what the real problems are without knowing what is available when in space.

There is the rotating wheel trick like in 2001, etc but I would imagine that NASA are looking for something a bit smaller.

@ 3 A_Voice

You have read the blurb on this I take it?

Not only do you have to build it yourself they suggest you buy the “tools” from them as well! You have to admire Maplin for their cheek.

Not too sure that the k8200 is anywhere near as good as the Argentine offering even though that costs considerably more it is built far more robustly and has a really good case to protect the components from draughts and dust in the air which are likely to contaminate / affect the strength of the parts.

There is little doubt there is a real opportunity here to offer a bespoke design and manufacturing service, but how many companies will use this service is the real $64,000 question.

THANKS GUYS.
Oct 03rd, 2013 - 05:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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DanyBerger
@ChrisR

May be you are right to be honest I have not researched enough about 3D printers able to print with metal particles.

I saw them only on videos and I know that they exist since the ’80 or ’90 and that are quite expensive.

EOS 400 I guess was one of the first to come into market.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zknjvQtn6e4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zknjvQtn6e4

I am just planning to assemble one CN 3D FDM prototype that uses ABS filament to experiment with it.
I already bough half of the parts, Extruder, Frame, steel guides, etc. I have to desire now what electronic I will buy.

About your question
I don’t know if you are talking about Uruguay, SA, etc.

The reality I know about Argentina is that 3D design and prototype printing are divided in 3 leagues.

You have companies that produces plastic injected parts for carmakers, electronic factories, electrical appliances, etc. that design and produce prototypes at home using industrial type machines like Dimension Stratasys, Objet, etc.

Then you have little medium size companies that have all these machines but offer the service of design and rapid prototyping to little companies. I guess that there are more companies offering design and rapid prototyping than clients in this sector.

Then you have students of industrial design, engineering, etc. that use open source 3d printing rapid prototyping service that charge USD20 each hour of printing plus cost of the 3D model design.

So I guess your best option in Uruguay as they are just starting with it, is to print plastic parts for Open source machines. they have to import it from Argentina, US or EU.

With 2 pound of ABS PG that cost in Argentina $280 (48 USD) you can make 2 set of plastic kits that you can sell to 80 USD each easy in Uruguay because importing it from Argentina, US or Europe will cost more for the shipping cost, etc.

I know you will not become millionaire with it but who knows? Ha ha

to make a quid has become too hard on these days
Oct 04th, 2013 - 12:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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A_Voice
First this.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22421185
and then this.....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22421185
...and then, with the addition of titanium and nickel-cromium powders.....
....the full Monty....
....Honey!.....what are those kids up to in there?
Oct 06th, 2013 - 05:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ChrisR
6 A_Voice

This is what happens when you pull people up for not using English:

WTF is “cromium”?
Oct 06th, 2013 - 07:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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A_Voice
7
I don't pull people on a typo....unless it is funny....
.....my h needs a bit more pressure than normal.....on the other thread I typed is instead of his...
....don't think anyone noticed....but I did
....God help you if you make a typo from now on...

....I'll be in like Flynn
Oct 06th, 2013 - 08:38 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ChrisR
8 A_Voice
“God help you if you make a typo from now on”

Gotcha! Ha, ha, ha. BTW I am an atheist.
Oct 07th, 2013 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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A_Voice
Well don't forget to have this inscription put on your headstone.....
..............All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go
Oct 07th, 2013 - 01:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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ChrisR
10 A_Voice

I am hoping, when the time eventually comes, to be buried in The British Cemetery in MVD.

But the headstone will have this on it:

THE FINAL DISAPPOINTMENT.

As it will be for everybody (do you see what I did there?).
Oct 07th, 2013 - 08:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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