Made In Space Sets Guinness World Record for Longest 3D-Printed Piece

Space.com ^ | February 22, 2018 08:50pm ET | Mike Wall,

[BenLurkin]

The machine that printed the record-setting beam will be the 3D printer for Archinaut, a robotic system that Made In Space is developing. Archinaut will also feature robotic arms, allowing the spacecraft to repair satellites and build large structures in Earth orbit, company representatives have said.

This same 3D printer passed a "thermal vacuum" test last summer, successfully printing out parts in a chamber that imposed the temperatures and vacuum of space. 

That test was conducted at standard Earth gravity, but Made In Space does have experience manufacturing things in zero-G: The company has launched three separate machines to the International Space Station (ISS). The first two are 3D printers, and the third is a payload that manufactures high-value optical fiber in orbit. If this third machine works as hoped, Made In Space plans to haul space-made fiber down to Earth and sell it, the company has said.

NASA owns one of the Made In Space 3D printers aboard the ISS, and Made In Space owns the other one, operating it as a commercial facility open to a variety of customers.

The use of 3D printing could greatly expand humanity's space-exploration efforts, NASA and other advocates have said. The technology could allow voyaging spacecraft to make what they need on the go, meaning they wouldn't have to carry as many spare parts.

[Cold Heart]

That is neat. Also they could make their own guns, I mean square root signs.

[null and void]

3-D Printer Ping!

Political power grows out of the nozzle of a 3-D Printer.

[vpintheak]

I saw these guys do a presentation at Autodesk University in Vegas a few years back. WAY cool. They manufactured Humanity’s first part ever made in space. Really amazing.

[Erik Latranyi]

Democrats will be lining up to regulate and control this.

[bmwcyle]

Oh good more space CGI, YAWN.