Another big step towards space-based 3D printing has taken place in Scotland.
The University of Glasgow announced that they have opened up a new test facility for materials intended to be 3D printed in space.
Space-based 3D printing is of increasing interest due to the ability to create objects on-site rather than sending them up from Earth. Current costs of sending payloads to orbit or higher are quite high, so the game is to minimize the cargo. You can do that if you print objects on demand right on-site, and this is especially beneficial if you’re using local materials, such as on the lunar surface.
However, there is the question of whether the prints will actually function properly. On Earth, it’s easy — just print something and test it. That’s not always possible in a space environment where you often have only one chance to make things work.
Environmental conditions in space are far more dramatic than on Earth. Extreme temperatures and extreme temperature shifts are common. For example, daytime on the Moon can reach +127C, while at night in the same location, the temperature could drop to -173C, a change of 300C! What would that do to the precise dimensions of a part? Would this reduce the part’s strength over time?
Similarly, there is no atmosphere, and parts will have to withstand a vacuum. Problems here might involve the porosity introduced by many 3D print processes. What happens to voids that might contain gases? Would they introduce unexpected mechanical stress on the object from the inside? Could they weaken the part?
Enter the University of Glasgow’s new “NextSpace Testrig”, which is a specialized chamber designed to simulate these conditions in a laboratory.
It can create thermal environments ranging from -150C to +250C, and also provides a near-complete vacuum. In addition, it also includes a system that can provide a force of up to 20kN to simulate mechanical stress on a part.
NextSpace Testrig will permit researchers to test 3D printed parts before they are sent into space, providing more confidence that they will function properly. I also expect the testing of parts made from simulated lunar regolith, which could greatly reduce the risk of failure in future lunar 3D printing experiments.
