Stratasys, a global specialist in additive technology solutions, and Phoenix Analytical and Design Technologies announced that the two companies are working with Lockheed Martin to provide NASA's Orion deep spacecraft with next-generation 3D printing components.
Key to this project is Stratasys' advanced materials - including the new ESD variant of Antero 800NA, a PEKK-based thermoplastic material that provides high performance mechanical, chemical and thermal properties.
Orion is a NASA spacecraft that sends astronauts to the moon and other places. The next test flight of Orion is called Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), which will be the first to have the most powerful rocket in the world. The comprehensive mission of the space launch system, where an unequipped Orion vehicle will be in the mission for about three weeks.
The following EM-2 aircraft will also fly near the Moon, but will board with astronauts. This is the first flight since 1972 and will enable NASA to become more and more complex in the depths of space. The mission is ready. The mission will use more than 100 3D printing production parts, designed with Lockheed Martin, Stratasys and PADT.
Production-grade thermoplastic 3D printed parts from NASA's Orion vehicles were produced in cooperation with PADT by Lockheed Martin's Additive Manufacturing Laboratory. PADT now uses the latest Stratasys 3D printers and materials. Using ULTEM 9085 resins and other advanced technologies. Materials and new Antero materials incorporating key electrostatic dissipating (ESD) capabilities - NASA can meet critical requirements for 3D printed parts in deep space extremes. Antero is ideally suited to meet NASA's resistance to heat and chemicals The requirements and the ability to withstand high mechanical loads.
"Working with PADT, Stratasys and NASA enabled us to achieve a highly consistent build that goes beyond prototyping and into production," said Brian Kaplun, Additive Manufacturing Manager at Lockheed Martin Space. 'We're not just creating parts, we're Reshape our production strategy to make spacecraft production cheaper and faster.
The difference between Lockheed Martin, Stratasys, and PADT Engineering is that they can achieve consistency and repeatability on a large scale throughout the manufacturing of additive-manufactured parts. Lockheed Martin is also the first to use Stratasys's Antero. One of the customers, the company used a new type of thermoplastic material to make key parts located outside the Orion Docking Cabin. The complex parts consist of six independent 3D printed parts that are locked together to form the outer ring of the aircraft.
'The demand for space travel requires extremely high-performance materials and the most stringent manufacturing processes in the industry. The integrity and repeatability of parts are critical and must pass NASA's rigorous testing and validation process,' said Scott Sevcik, vice president of manufacturing at Stratasys. 'With decades of experience providing strong, lightweight, additive manufacturing solutions for leading aviation companies, Stratasys technology is well-suited to match the high-reliability manufacturing process that space exploration requires to produce parts.
'It's exciting to be part of the Orion mission and Lockheed Martin's efforts to move additive manufacturing from prototype manufacturing to production,' said Rey Chu, PADT's chief and co-owner. 'Additive manufacturing technologies and materials have become A big step towards mature end-use manufacturing options.