Germany’sSLM Solutionshas produced what is tipped to be the “world’s largest 3D printed rocket engine” for British spaceflight companyOrbex。
Part of the inaugural unveiling of Orbex’s commercial orbital rocket, Prime, the engine was 3D printed in a single piece, and will be used to deliver small satellites into orbit. The Prime was shown at the opening of the company’s new headquarters in Forres, Scotland, funded by backing from the欧盟委员会地平线2020fund, the英国航天局(UKSA) and other private and public bodies.
At the grand unveiling Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of UKSA said, “Orbex’s new rocket design facility brings Britain one step closer to having its own domestic commercial launch capability and firmly positions the UK as Europe’s frontrunner for those looking to Earth’s orbit and beyond for new opportunities.”
“The new facility and future spaceport operations will help unlock vast
economic and societal benefits not just in Scotland but right across the UK.”
A $40 million exit from stealth mode
Long in “stealth mode,” Orbex was founded in 2015 with the aim of launching small commercial立方体进入地球轨道。2018年7月，该公司宣布了3,000万英镑（4000万美元）的私人和公共筹款活动，并确认UKSA将允许Orbex从其Sutherland太空港口推出，这是该公司股票的一家，并确认UKSA将允许Orbex允许Orbex启动Orbex。与美国竞争对手Rocket Lab。
The Orbex Prime light launch vehicle is fulled by liquid oxygen (LOx) and propane, a氢的无毒和便宜的替代品。与许多现代火箭一样，Prime的助推器也被设计为可重复使用，减少在发射过程中产生的浪费。
Measuring 19 m high, and 1.3 m in diameter, the Prime is capable of carrying a payload of 150 kg, up to 500 km. In this regard it is comparable to theRocket Lab Electron rocket, which has a payload capacity of between 150 and 225 kg, though the two vehicles use different propellants.
3D打印Orbex Prime引擎
SLM Solutions在SLM 800大格式添加剂制造系统上印刷了Orbex Prime的发动机。雷电竞充值SLM 800的建筑面积为260 x 500毫米，可建造高达800毫米高的零件 - 提供Orbex发动机的潜在尺度。
它是由镍合金制成的，与传统的CNC加工相比，其添加剂的产量在周转时间节省了90％的Orbex 90％，成本超过50％。此外，据报道，该发动机有助于使Prime“比其类别中的任何其他发射车高30％，效率高20％”。在里面概念阶段，Orbex战略投资者Elecnor Deimos空间demonstrated that the Prime is 18,000 kg in mass.
One of the key factors in the engine’s production is that it is made in a single piece, eradicating joins and strengthening the part’s overall integrity. Speaking on its development Lukas Pankiewicz, Applications Specialist at SLM Solutions, comments, “Our aim during the process was to fulfill the quality expectations of the Orbex team, keep the functionality of the part and make it suitable for additive manufacturing.”
“Every single support structure used in data preparation has been customized to obtain the best quality in every section of the engine, taking post-processing into consideration as well.”
推出2021
私人太空发射业迅速与竞争对手竞赛成为商业市场的领导者。为了降低成本并创建新的，轻质的部分架构，在该领域运营的许多公司都使用3D打印来构建其引擎 - 这包括Space X Superdraco engine,Aerojet Rocketdyne’s AR1,火箭实验室卢瑟福引擎and parts ofBlue Origin’s BE series。
Orbex Prime及其3D印刷发动机的处女航行计划于2021年进行，将是实验性有效载荷3D printing-forward萨里卫星技术。Speaking at the public preview of the Prime, Chris Larmour CEO of Orbex, commented, “Today Orbex has taken some big strides forward, creating something unique in Europe – a well-funded, private micro-launch solution supported by excellent facilities, strong industrial partners and an expanding line-up of commercial customers.”
“[…] We are looking forward to the next steps in our development from our new home in Scotland.”
提名Orbex和SLM解决方案，以供年度航空航天申请2019 3D Printing Industry Awards。
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Featured image shows a close up of the Prime’s single piece 3D printed engine. Photo via Orbex
