How Does 3D Printing Serve Space Science and Technology?

3D printing is usually realized by digital material printers. It is often used in mould manufacturing, industrial design and other fields. Later, it is gradually used in the direct manufacturing of some products, and some parts have been printed with this technology. The technology has been applied in jewelry, industrial design, construction, automobile, aerospace, medical industry and other fields. Today, we will focus on the application of 3D printing technology in aerospace.

 

At the end of September in 2014, NASA completed its first imaging telescope. All components were basically manufactured by 3D printing technology. NASA has also become the first unit to attempt to use 3D printing technology to manufacture the entire instrument. This space telescope has complete functions. Its outer tube, outer baffle and optical frame are printed directly as a separate structure. In contrast, the number of parts required by traditional manufacturing methods is more than 5 times that of 3D printing. In addition, in a 3D-printed telescope, the instrument baffle used to reduce stray light in the telescope can be made into an angular style, which can not be achieved in a part by traditional manufacturing methods.

 

On August 31^st in 2014, NASA engineers completed the test of a three-dimensional printed rocket ejector. This research is aimed at improving the performance of the rocket engine. Due to the mixing reaction of liquid oxygen and gaseous hydrogen in the ejector, the combustion can produce about 9 tons of thrust, which verifies the feasibility of 3D printing technology in rocket engine manufacturing. The ejector of rocket engine needs processing technology of high precision. If 3D printing technology is used, the manufacturing complexity can be reduced.

 

In October of 2014, a British team produced a rocket by using 3D printing technology. They are also preparing to launch the world's first printed rocket. The team introduced the world's first rocket made with 3D printing technology to the media in London. Team leader Haynes said that with 3D printing technology, it was not difficult to create highly complex shapes. Even if the design prototype was to be modified, the printer would make relative adjustments as long as the design software of the computer was modified. This is much more convenient than the traditional manufacturing methods. Since NASA uses 3D printing technology to make rocket parts, the future of 3D printing technology has been very bright.

 

On April 21^st in 2015, NASA's official website reported that engineers were saving costs by manufacturing the first rocket engine part of full-scale copper alloy with the augmented material manufacturing technology. The head of Space Technology Task Force said it was a new milestone in the application of 3D printing technology in aerospace.

 

In June of 2015, Russian Technological Group Corporation, a state-owned enterprise, manufactured a prototype UAV with 3D printing technology. It weighs 3.8 kilograms and has a wingspan of 2.4 meters. It can fly at speeds of 90 to 100 kilometers per hour and has a endurance of 1 to 1.5 hours.

 

On April 19^th in 2016, the institute of Green Intelligent Technology announced that the first space on-orbit 3D printer in China had been successfully developed. The 3D printer can print the largest size of components up to 200 x 130mm. It can help astronauts to make their own parts in weightlessness environment, greatly improving the flexibility of space station experiments and reducing the type and quantity of spare parts. Therefore, the operating costs of space stations and the dependence of space stations on the ground replenishment are reduced greatly.

 

In short, 3D printing technology is beneficial to the development of the aerospace and other fields. With its advance, our living standard will improve and the world will become better. That is all that counts.