15 October 2013
Last updated at 06:22 ET
This concept Mars probe features 3D printed components
The Amaze project
brings together 28 institutions to develop new metal components which
are lighter, stronger and cheaper than conventional parts.
Additive manufacturing (or "3D printing") has already revolutionised the design of plastic products.
Printing metal parts for rockets and planes would cut waste and save money.
Parts for cars and satellites can be optimised to be lighter and - simultaneously - incredibly robust.
Tungsten alloy components that can withstand temperatures of 3,000C were unveiled at Amaze's launch on Tuesday at London Science Museum.
At such extreme temperatures they can survive inside nuclear fusion reactors and on the nozzles of rockets.
"We want to build the best quality metal products ever made. Objects you can't possibly manufacture any other way," said David Jarvis, Esa's head of new materials and energy research.
"To build a [fusion reactor], like Iter, you somehow have to take the heat of the Sun and put it in a metal box.
"3,000C is as hot as you can imagine for engineering.
"If we can get 3D metal printing to work, we are well on the way to commercial nuclear fusion."
Amaze is a loose acronym for Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste and Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products.
The 20m-euro project brings together 28 partners from European industry and academia - including Airbus, Astrium, Norsk Titanium, Cranfield University, EADS, and the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.
Factory sites are being set up in France, Germany, Italy, Norway and the UK to develop the industrial supply chain.
Amaze researchers have already begun printing metal jet engine parts and aeroplane wing sections up to 2m in size.
These high-strength components are typically built from expensive, exotic metals such as titanium, tantalum and vanadium.
Using traditional casting techniques often wastes precious source material.
Continue reading the main story
"To produce one kilo of metal, you use one kilo of metal - not 20 kilos," says Esa's Franco Ongaro.
"We need to clean up our act - the space industry needs to be more green. And this technique will help us."
Printing objects as a single piece - without welding or bolting - can make them both stronger and lighter.
A weight reduction of even 1kg for a long range aircraft will save hundred of thousands of dollars over its lifespan.
"Our ultimate aim is to print a satellite in a single piece. One chunk of metal, that doesn't need to be welded or bolted," said Jarvis.
"To do that would save 50% of the costs - millions of euros."
But Jarvis is candid about the problems and inefficiencies that still need to be overcome - what he calls the "dirty secrets" of 3D printing.
"One common problem is porosity - small air bubbles in the product. Rough surface finishing is an issue too," he said.
"We need to understand these defects and eliminate them - if we want to achieve industrial quality.
"And we need to make the process repeatable - scale it up.
"We can't do all this unless we collaborate between industries - space, fusion, aeronautics.
"We need all these teams working together and sharing."
Amaze project aims to take 3D printing 'into metal age'
This concept Mars probe features 3D printed components
The
European Space Agency has unveiled plans to "take 3D printing into the
metal age" by building parts for jets, spacecraft and fusion projects.
Additive manufacturing (or "3D printing") has already revolutionised the design of plastic products.
Printing metal parts for rockets and planes would cut waste and save money.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
Franco Ongaro EsaWe need to clean up our act - the space industry needs to be more green. And this technique will help us”
The layered method of assembly
also allows intricate designs - geometries which are impossible to
achieve with conventional metal casting.
Tungsten alloy components that can withstand temperatures of 3,000C were unveiled at Amaze's launch on Tuesday at London Science Museum.
At such extreme temperatures they can survive inside nuclear fusion reactors and on the nozzles of rockets.
"We want to build the best quality metal products ever made. Objects you can't possibly manufacture any other way," said David Jarvis, Esa's head of new materials and energy research.
Hinges for the Airbus A320 - conventional (background) and 3D printed (foreground)
"To build a [fusion reactor], like Iter, you somehow have to take the heat of the Sun and put it in a metal box.
"3,000C is as hot as you can imagine for engineering.
"If we can get 3D metal printing to work, we are well on the way to commercial nuclear fusion."
Amaze is a loose acronym for Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste and Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products.
The 20m-euro project brings together 28 partners from European industry and academia - including Airbus, Astrium, Norsk Titanium, Cranfield University, EADS, and the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy.
Factory sites are being set up in France, Germany, Italy, Norway and the UK to develop the industrial supply chain.
Amaze researchers have already begun printing metal jet engine parts and aeroplane wing sections up to 2m in size.
These high-strength components are typically built from expensive, exotic metals such as titanium, tantalum and vanadium.
Using traditional casting techniques often wastes precious source material.
Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
Iter - International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
Additive manufacturing - building parts up layer-on-layer from 3D digital data - produces almost "zero waste".
"We need to clean up our act - the space industry needs to be more green. And this technique will help us."
Printing objects as a single piece - without welding or bolting - can make them both stronger and lighter.
A weight reduction of even 1kg for a long range aircraft will save hundred of thousands of dollars over its lifespan.
"Our ultimate aim is to print a satellite in a single piece. One chunk of metal, that doesn't need to be welded or bolted," said Jarvis.
"To do that would save 50% of the costs - millions of euros."
But Jarvis is candid about the problems and inefficiencies that still need to be overcome - what he calls the "dirty secrets" of 3D printing.
"One common problem is porosity - small air bubbles in the product. Rough surface finishing is an issue too," he said.
"We need to understand these defects and eliminate them - if we want to achieve industrial quality.
"And we need to make the process repeatable - scale it up.
"We can't do all this unless we collaborate between industries - space, fusion, aeronautics.
"We need all these teams working together and sharing."
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