News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
NASA technicians and engineers have qualified 3D printing technologies to help in the creation of tailored thermal protection systems for the Space Launch System. The new deep space rocket must be able to endure extreme conditions and temperatures when it launches NASA’s Orion spacecraft and cargo into lunar orbit—3D printed molds could help achieve this needed resistance.
Air New Zealand recently completed a proof of concept in which it i ...
NASA engineers are consistently achieving innovative breakthroughs with additive manufacturing. Most recently, they tested a 2,400 lbf 3D printed copper rocket thrust chamber with a composite overwrap to determine whether the part had the necessary heat and structural load resistance.
Twin robotic arms work together as part of a project to construct what will be the largest, most complex object ever 3D printed in titanium: a test version of the 3-m diameter ‘optic bench’ at the heart of ESA’s Athena X-ray observatory.
Aerospace company Diehl Aviation has delivered the largest 3D printed part for a passenger aircraft to Qatar Airways. The 3D printed part in question is the Curtain Comfort Header, an enclosure for the curtain rail that separates seating classes, which can measure up to 1140 x 720 x 240 mm.
Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc. announced that it has acquired 3D Material Technologies (3DMT) from ARC Group Worldwide, Inc. 3DMT is a provider of additive manufacturing services to the aerospace, defense, medical and industrial markets.
With every small step ahead in NASA’s 3D Printed Habitat Challenge, the world gets a little bit closer to taking the giant leap of putting humans on Mars. Most recently, NASA awarded the top three teams in the Complete Virtual Construction phase of the challenge: SEArch+/Apis Cor, Zopherus and Mars Incubator.
Thales Alenia Space, a French-Italian aerospace manufacturer, has announced the next step in its additive manufacturing adoption: series production. The company, which first began its journey with AM in 2015 with 3D printed aluminum antenna brackets for the TürkmenÄlem/MonacoSAT satellite and polymer tube supports for the Iridium NEXT constellation, will begin turning out 3D printed components for telecom satellites built on its all-electric Spacebus Neo platform.
GE Additive has been selected by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), a manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, radars and electro-optic mission systems, to provide its AddWorks consultancy services. The collaboration, born out of a recent competitive tender, will see the AddWorks team working closely with GA-ASI to drive the qualification and implementation of metal AM within the latter’s manufacturing and workflow.
Made In Space, the company responsible for sending the first 3D printer into space, has announced a significant milestone in the development of its Archinaut program. The California-based company has successfully demonstrated the Archinaut’s additive manufacturing and robotic assembly capabilities in a space-like environment.