3D printing lightweight lunar construction floor, MX3D launches sustainable space exploration mission

Guide: September 2, 2021, Robot Metal in the Netherlands3D printingcompanyMX3DAlready for EuropeaerospaceThe prototype of the Lunar Settlement Agency (ESA) built an efficient “skeleton floor” based on new materials.

Analyze the scribed stress map with3D printingIn combination, MX3D built an ultra-light steel structure with a smooth mesh design and reduced its mass to 395 kg.According to Advenit Makaya, an ESA engineer, the successful manufacture of this structure shows the efficiency of MX3D technology and its development on the moon.
architecture
The potential of operations, it may also be used in the construction of thunderstone structures in the future.

Makaya said: “This is a remarkable achievement of MX3D, which further highlights the potential of this additive manufacturing technology in an increasingly wide range of space applications.” Design flexibility, and the integration of printed structures with embedded monitoring systems The possibilities of the combination are worthy of study in the application of spatial structure. This technology can also be considered for in-situ construction of infrastructure in sustainable exploration missions, by using metal raw materials extracted from locally available thunderstone. “

△ MX3D company weighs 495 kilograms of stainless steel3D printingMoon floor. Photo courtesy of ESA

Lightweight “skeleton” design

The floor of MX3D was built for the four-story ESA Lunar Habitat prototype being developed by the construction company SkidmoreOwings and Merrill (SOM).Topology Optimization, In order to save material as much as possible.In actual construction, the structure uses MX3D’s proprietary WAAM technology3D printingInto six vertical parts, and then welded into a cohesive substructure.Supported by three pillars, a series of panels on the floor form a “net”, which can be used as a supporting structure without filling. At the same time, its overall design is inclined to the periphery and the center, allowing these areas to have a smaller thickness conduct3D printing, But not at the expense of cohesion or integrity. Daniel Inocente, SOM’s senior designer in charge of the project, explained: “We studied the manufacturing constraints and used our analysis to interpolate a follow-up3D printingNetwork mode limited by machine angle. The section and thickness are also analyzed and differentiated to reduce the overall mass, that is, to reduce the thickness at the outer/inner boundary. “

This piece of 308LSi stainless steel floor took about 246 hours to complete. Once joined together, its width is approximately 4.5 meters. In the end, this architectural structure failed to be part of SOM’s “Life Beyond Earth” Venice Biennale as planned. However, according to Gijs van der Velden, CEO of MX3D, the project still proves the lightweight potential of its technology.
van der Velden concluded: “This is a perfect project. MX3D can use its experience in printing topologically optimized metal structures. Realizing the best use of materials is a company goal of MX3D, because it is just like when designing space applications. Similarly, every kilogram lost in the MX3D design is a direct victory for the feasibility of the project.”

△Using the delineated stress map analysis and topology optimization, the design of the floor is significantly lighter than before.Picture from ESA

MX3D’s architectural expertise

This structure is made around Metal XLsoftware(MX3D’s first software specifically for robotic WAAM) is completed, and the printer installed on the ABB machine, which allows MX3D’s process to build customized large-scale buildings. Recently, the company also started using M1 3D printingMachine builds its own system, this printer recently received a cash injection of 2.25 million euros toFundingIts further research and development and release.Since its launch in 2015, MX3D has steadily expanded the application range of its technology, starting from the first vehicle in 20163D printing“Arc” bicycles, steel bridge connectors in 2019, are said to have attracted great interest from construction companies. Using its unique WAAM method, MX3D also began to build bridges, and in June 2021 announced its first such 12-meter-long structure at the Oudezijds Achterburgwal Canal in Amsterdam. By cooperating with China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, Imperial College London and the Alan Turing Institute, MX3D has been able to incorporate sensors into the construction, so as to collect data to create a digital twin structure.

At the time, van der Velden claimed that the bridge was just a small opening song for their company’s brilliant technology.In the nearest
aviation
After the success of the aerospace project, Thomas Rohr, the head of materials and technology at ESA, realized the aerospace potential of MX3D’s robot-led technology.
Rolle concluded: “The capabilities of MX3D demonstrate the inspiring consistency of engineering and art, and are another great example of how AM has entered our society. For space applications, this technology not only provides performance Improvements on the above, and can bring unprecedented and advantageous design solutions.

Extraterrestrial3D printing

MX3D3D printingTechnology undoubtedly shows increasing scalability, but it is not the first technology used to build houses in extraterrestrial space. For example, ICON, headquartered in Texas, was entrusted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to develop an outer space construction system that can build a permanent lunar base using only the gypsum on the moon.

Recently, ICON also signed a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to3D printingA Martian habitat that accurately reproduces the conditions that astronauts will experience when visiting the surface of Mars. Beginning next year, the structure will accommodate a three-year NASA field test to test the efficacy of its nutritional system, as well as the effects of long-term physical and behavioral exposure to the Red Planet.

At the same time, outside the United States, scientists from the Technical University of Braunschweig and the Hannover Laser Center (LZH) succeeded for the first time in zero-gravity conditions.3D printingMoon rocks. The lasers installed on the rover by the team melted moon dust into lunar structures, so that pilots do not have to transport heavy cargo from the earth to the surface of the moon.

(Editor in charge: admin)

3D printing lightweight lunar construction floor, MX3D launches sustainable space exploration mission

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