News and Insights of 3D Printing and Manufacturing
It’s not just cutting edge startups helping NASA achieve its 3D printing in space goals; students and universities are also playing an important role. At South Dakota State University (SDState), a team of mechanical engineering students have been developing new 3D printing materials for use aboard the International Space Station.
In 2014, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) awarded Ohio-based Fabrisonic seed funding to develop its hybrid Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing (UAM) process for improved metal heat exchangers. With continued support from JPL over the years and with in depth development and testing, Fabrisonic has successfully developed pumped fluid loop heat exchangers which are lighter, more efficient and faster to produce than traditional epoxy tube heat exchangers.
With many exciting developments in the intersecting industries of additive manufacturing and space exploration this past week, we were hardly surprised to hear that Made In Space, a pioneer of 3D printing in space, also had some news. The company, responsible for sending the first 3D printer (the AMF system) into space in 2016, is now developing power systems for small satellites which will provide them with large satellite power and capability.
Accessibility to 3D printing on the ISS has allowed astronauts to print custom plastic tools and parts that are needed to successfully achieve their mission. No need to come back to earth to fetch that tool, you can now print it at zero G with the 3D printer currently running on the ISS. Soon you will be able to bioprint too with new Allevi ZeroG extruder.
From GE Additive’s many announcements to Norsk TItanium’s updates, the Farnborough Airshow in the UK has been a hotbed for aerospace AM news this week. One of the latest stories to come out of the international event is a collaboration between metal powder producer LPW Technology and metal AM company Additive Industries. Through the partnership, the companies say they will work together to further integrate industrial additive manufacturing of metal parts for the aerospace industry and other high-end applications.
As part of an initiative to develop next-generation advanced materials and manufacturing processes, Lockheed Martin and Arconic, signed a two-year Joint Development Agreement (JDA). Together, the companies will develop customized lightweight material systems and advanced manufacturing processes, such as metal 3D printing, to advance current and next-generation aerospace and defense solutions—including new structures and systems not currently in existence.
Aerospace industry leader, Triumph Group has acquired two systems from GE Additive, as well as a range of AddWorksTM consultancy service packages, to help further its additive manufacturing strategy. It seems that more and more traditional industrial giants are coming to the (inevitable) realization that AM is the future and that they need to invest to get themselves on board of the soon-departing AM flight.
With the Farnborough Airshow in full swing, we’ve seen a lot of aerospace-centric AM news this week. Norsk Titanium, the developer of Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD), an FAA-certified, OEM-qualified AM process for producing titanium parts, has not been left behind in the excitement as it has made announcements in collaboration with both Spirit AeroSystems and QuesTek Innovations.
GE Additive will be conductiong their first AddWorks TM additive consulting services engagement in Japan with Honda R&D Co., Ltd, Aircraft Engine R&D Center (Honda Aircraft Engine R&D Center). This agreement aims to further Honda Aircraft Engine R&D Group’s additive application development for its future generation aircraft engines.
Oerlikon, a leading technology and engineering group, and RUAG Space, a division of the technology Group RUAG, will sign a Memorandum of Understanding today during the Farnborough Airshow to qualify and accelerate series production of 3D printed space components.