Getting people to the moon is difficult enough, and requires a lot of fuel. Each screwdriver and bracket adds weight and takes up space, so engineers in this field have been looking for ways to reduce the mass of the rocket inside and outside. One of the most common ideas is to make parts in space and on the moon in lunar dust or moon storms. The European Space Agency (ESA) has been experimenting with 3D printing of lunar weathered soil for several years, and the most recent results are the most detailed parts made of cosmic materials.
ESA materials engineer Advenit Makaya reports, "These parts have the best print resolution, using objects made of composite material simulants, demonstrating a high level of printing accuracy and expanding the use of these items. If printing is required Tools or mechanical parts to replace broken parts on the lunar base, the accuracy of the size and shape of the printed items will be critical. "
The Austrian company Lithoz is responsible for 3D printing. Lithoz has been developing, operating, and selling professional ceramic 3D printers since 2011, so they are the first choice to simulate the weathering of the moon. Their LCM (lithography-based ceramic manufacturing) technology is a turning point in SLA 3D printing, in which photopolymers mixed with compounds such as aluminum and zirconia are cured layer by layer with directed light. The parts were then sintered in an oven to harden.
They did the same for the weathering layer, producing beautiful screws, gears and nozzles. Lithoz CEO Johannes Homa added: "Thanks to our expertise in ceramic additive manufacturing, we are able to achieve these results very quickly. We believe that the ceramic additive manufacturing potential of the Moon is huge."
By using the moon's dust, colonists can make replacement parts, tools, furniture, and even their houses. This means that not only can save a lot of rocket fuel because photopolymers are very light compared to cement, but also increase the comfort and safety of the colonists, because when they think of a new solution, they encounter In an emergency, you don't have to wait for parts to be shipped from the earth.
The study, supported by ESA, is a forward-looking event that involves feasibility studies and shows how new technologies can be used in space exploration.