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NASA Wants To Test 3-D Printing Aboard ISS

Posted by timothy on from the it-puts-the-droplets-in-the-bucket dept.

coondoggie writes "NASA wants to test out 3-D printing technology onboard the International Space Station to find out if the technology could be used to manufacture parts in space." NASA may not be creating any production parts this way for a long time yet, but they've got to start somewhere.

2 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Debbie Downers by spire3661 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why the 'well it sucks and cant be used for anything yet, but we are going to try it' attitude? ISNT THAT THE POINT OF THE ISS? To try the unfeasible and untested? How many experiments have gone up on pure theory alone and never have real world payouts? This FOR SURE will yield valuable data on advanced manufacturing techniques in space. You couldnt ask for a better experiment.

    --
    Good-bye
  2. Re:most cheap printers don't care about gravity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The common, cheap, FDM printers (the ones that squirt out hot plastic from a nozzle) can print just fine upside down. So obviously they will print fine with zero gravity.

    Nope. While they may work upside down, 0g can still be an issue. No convection causes major issues (heat does not rise in 0g). They might have fume or thermal problems. There may also be some issues with bearing, lubrication etc.

    Ever wonder what fire is like in 0g without convection? Its very strange, and might be what happens to the printer.