Welcome back to Vision Miner 3D Printing News! Today, we have an out-of-this-world story to share. A consortium under the European Space Agency (ESA) has designed and manufactured a high-temperature Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printer that’s destined for the International Space Station (ISS). This innovative project, known as Project Imperial, promises to take 3D printing to new heights, quite literally!
Unlimited Length Printing in Space
Project Imperial is making waves because it uses a unique conveyor belt system, allowing it to theoretically print parts of unlimited length. This is a game-changer, especially when you consider the challenging conditions of space. While the printer’s compatibility with specific high-temperature engineering filaments like PEEK and ULTEM was not explicitly mentioned, it holds great promise for space-based additive manufacturing.
Last month, at their advanced manufacturing workshop, Project Imperial demonstrated its capabilities by fabricating a 1.5-meter-long bar. If you’re familiar with high-temperature FDM printing, you’ll know that printing a 1.5-meter-long bar in materials like PEEK or ULTEM is no small feat.
The Consortium Behind Project Imperial
The consortium responsible for Project Imperial includes aerospace firms OHB and Astrium Space from Germany, the Athlone Institute of Technology in the Republic of Ireland, and BEEVERYCREATIVE, a Portuguese 3D printer provider. With their combined expertise, they’ve overcome one of the main limitations of 3D printing – build volume, while using a compact 3D printer capable of processing high-performance thermoplastics.
Hugo Lafont, a materials specialist at ESA, explains the significance, “This is a great achievement that will extend the application field of this on-demand manufacturing process.”
Sustainable In-Space Manufacturing
Project Imperial is part of ESA’s initiative to advance in-space manufacturing systems that can overcome the constraints of current 3D printing technologies. The ultimate goal is to place Project Imperial on the ISS, where it will be used for on-demand fabrication and maintenance.
This approach will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the ISS and will be invaluable for future missions. To meet this ambitious goal, Project Imperial had to meet several technical requirements. It needed to print high-performance engineering polymers like PEEK in microgravity conditions while maintaining Earth-like part qualities. It also had to print large parts with unlimited lengths in one direction, all within strict power consumption limitations. Moreover, the printed parts should be ready to use right out of the build chamber, with no need for post-processing facilities.
Efficiency with raw materials was another focus. The printer needed to minimize waste materials or ensure they were entirely reusable. This sustainable approach is crucial for long-term space missions.
Exploring the Expanding World of Space-Ready 3D Printing
Project Imperial is not the only endeavor in space-ready additive manufacturing. Cosine Advanced Manufacturing Systems, for instance, has been developing a metal Electron Beam Melting (EBM) printer designed for NASA. This EBM printer is tailored for the Artemis program and aims to enable in-space automated manufacturing and component repair.
Exciting developments are unfolding in the realm of space-based 3D printing. If you found this news as thrilling as we did, be sure to hit the like button to show your support and stay updated by subscribing. The future of in-space manufacturing looks promising, and we can’t wait to see these technologies in action. Until then, have a stellar day, and we’ll catch you in the next video!