Made In Space to Send 3D Printer to ISS in August

[Brian_Krassenstein]

Made In Space today announced that their 3D printer will be sent to space a full three months ahead of schedule. The printer passed all the safety and regulation hurdles with flying colors. Once launched, the 3D printer will head to the International Space Station for a series of vigorous tests. Made in space plans to set up a permanent Additive Manufacturing Facility on the ISS once these tests are completed, and will eventually allow for companies and individuals to 3D print from space for a fee. The full story can be read here: http://3dprint.com/5982/made-in-space-3d-printer/

Here is a picture of the Made In Space 3D Printer which will be making it's way to the Space Station this August:

[Brian_Krassenstein]

Finally the first ever 3D printed object in space has been fabricated thanks to Made in Space. The object? A faceplate for the 3D printer's extruder:


More details and images are here: http://3dprint.com/27066/made-in-space-nasa-3d-print/

[Feign]

Interesting point of note that they've learned, because of the lack of convection, prints naturally cool a lot more slowly and evenly. So there's no curling in zero-g no matter what material they use. Layers seem to bond differently in zero-g also, with a smoother transition between beads, though it's not been tested weather the prints in space are stronger than those on the ground as a result, it's predicted that they might be.

As a result, parts stick almost too well to the plate, much more in zero-g than in gravity.

As the article said, this first printer is basically an experiment to better make a bigger and better second version, but it seems like so far, microgravity is such an ideal printing environment that they just don't have to worry about a lot of the things they thought they would need to worry about.

[matterthings]

It is a shame that the first 3d printed object in space was a lame faceplate. They could have printed something that represents humanity or technology. Isn´t the space station international? Why an object showing the names of Made in Space and Nasa? Marketing has reached outer space! Will the buckle that they print next have the logo of Nike or Adidas?