NASA的最新项目“蜘蛛侠”（Spiderfab）着重于将3D打印机技术用于未来的任务，以使太空飞船能够在轨道上自组装零件。此最新消息是在较早的公告突出显示使用电子束自由式制造或EBF3的零件在太空中构造备件而不是从地面携带零件的零件，从而减少了重量到外层空间的零件。
新的SpiderFab项目为降低未来任务的成本打开了大门，并允许使用3D打印机不仅构建备件，而且在外太空中构建整个船舶的建设。雷电竞app下载当前的太空工艺品旨在将所有必要的组件折叠并适合工艺品中紧凑的区域，并必须承受发射的高能力。
According to NASA; “we will develop concept designs for space systems that will use the SpiderFab process to create and integrate very large apertures and other structures for NASA space science and exploration missions. We will develop an architecture concept combining the SpiderFab process with robotic assembly technologies and automated quality control/metrology techniques to enable in-orbit construction of kilometre-scale antenna apertures to enable capabilities such as high-bandwidth communications with deep-space probes and radar imaging of deep-space objects. We will then evaluate the potential performance benefits for candidate missions relative to state-of-the-art deployable technologies.”
The foundation of this 3D printing process is based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) with methods derived from automated composite layup to enable rapid construction of very large, very high strength per mass, lattice-like structures combining both compressive and tensile elements. The project is funded by NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program with a $100,000 grant and additional research and testing is being done to determine the costs and benefits of the project.
