3D Techniques, an industry-leading 3D printing firm, is collaborating with researchers from Penn State College and Arizona State College on two NASA-sponsored initiatives aimed toward redefining thermal administration in area. These initiatives deal with the excessive temperature fluctuations that may compromise delicate spacecraft elements, a number one reason behind mission failure.
Leveraging its Direct Metallic Printing (DMP) expertise, tailor-made supplies, and Oqton’s 3DXpert software program, 3D Techniques helps engineer next-generation warmth rejection techniques for satellites and exploratory spacecraft.
One mission—spearheaded by Penn State, Arizona State, and NASA Glenn Analysis Heart in collaboration with 3D Techniques’ Software Innovation Group—focuses on titanium-based warmth pipe radiators. Additively manufactured with embedded high-temperature passive warmth pipes, these elements are 50% lighter and function at increased temperatures than present options, enhancing warmth radiation in high-power techniques.
The second initiative, led by Penn State and NASA Glenn, pushes even additional by producing one of many first purposeful components in nickel-titanium (nitinol) form reminiscence alloy (SMA). These radiators deploy passively when heated, eliminating the necessity for motors or actuators in area. The SMA radiator’s deployed-to-stowed space ratio is 6× better than standard options, a leap ahead for CubeSats and small-scale missions.
Historically, warmth pipes require advanced manufacturing to create inner wick constructions. Right here, the analysis workforce embedded a porous community immediately into the pipe partitions utilizing 3DXpert software program and printed them monolithically in titanium and nitinol utilizing DMP. The titanium-water warmth pipes functioned reliably at 230°C and weighed simply 3 kg/m²—half the burden of ordinary fashions—assembly NASA’s efficiency and cost-to-launch benchmarks.
The SMA radiators provide equally transformative beneficial properties: 70% lighter (
“Our long-standing R&D partnership with 3D Techniques has enabled pioneering analysis for using 3D printing for aerospace functions,” stated Alex Rattner, affiliate professor at Penn State.
3D Techniques has already delivered over 2,000 structural elements and 200 passive RF components at present in flight, with {hardware} built-in into greater than 15 energetic satellites.
