For the first time 3D printer is designed to operate in zero gravity in Space and it has launched to International Space Station early on Saturday morning. This 3D printer was developed by a small Californian company called Made In Space, which was founded in the year 2010. The company has been actively working on development of 3D printer in collaboration with NASA from 2011. The company has received a amount of $824,597 as Small Business Innovation Research which is granted from NASA.
However, in the year 2013 NASA awarded the company by name Made In Space as a Phase III Sole Source contract to build a 3D printer that would be used by International Space Station in further research. As you all may know that 3D printing have some special challenges when you try to do it in zero gravity.The actual purpose of developing this printer is to demonstrate that 3D printing can work on board as well as at the Space station. Now on the demand of station, NASA will use the printer for experimental purpose.
|
|
|
In usual, 3D printer gravity is normally used to hold layers in the place as they are deposited. But in this 3D printer, the matter is totally different, it can work in 0 gravity on any platform. This will be first used by ABS - Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene to perform additive manufacturing using standard FDM - Fused Deposition Modelling. There is a good news for private companies and institutes that, this printer will be an open platform to use, to carry out their own tests of 3D printing in space.
On the success of 3D printing Robert J. Kohlenberg Professor in University of Washington said that Companies will be able to build things in space for the space.
On the success of 3D printing Robert J. Kohlenberg Professor in University of Washington said that Companies will be able to build things in space for the space.
