ESA’s Metal 3D Printer, located in the European Drawer Rack Mark II of ESA’s Columbus module, has successfully fabricated several parts on the International Space Station (ISS)
To date, it has made a 3D metal shape, along with three others, all of which will be brought back to Earth for quality analysis. After arriving on Earth, two of the samples will go to ESA’s technical heart in the Netherlands (ESTEC), the third is headed to ESA’s astronaut training center in Cologne (EAC) for use in the LUNA facility, while the last will go to the Technical University of Denmark (DTU).
- Featuring a fully automatic one-click leveling system, this cutting-edge printer eliminates the need for manual calibration of the Z-axis, ensuring a...
- With a Core XY structure enabling speeds of up to Max 600mm/s and rapid acceleration of up to 20000 mm/s², this printer excels in efficiency and...
- Experience rapid nozzle changes in just 3 seconds with this high-performance 3D printer featuring a high-flow 32mm³/s nozzle for stable high-speed...
With the printing of the first metal 3D shape in space, ESA Exploration teams have achieved a significant milestone in establishing in-orbit manufacturing capabilities. This accomplishment, made possible by an international and multidisciplinary team, paves the way for long-distance and long-duration missions where creating spare parts, construction components, and tools on demand will be essential,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at ESA.
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