Question: How would this 3D printer that can make equipment of that size change peoples understanding of satellites and spacecrafts

Emma Ryan answered on 8 Mar 2017:

That’s a really good question!

At the moment, we’re limited by conventional techniques that cut bits of material away from a large block of material. Although we want satellites and spacecraft as light as possible, we also want to do the least amount of work possible so the shape has to be quite simple.

However, with additive manufacturing (this is the technical term for 3D printing), you have much more freedom with the spape the structures can be. You can make them lattice structure, which looks a lot more natural and sort of looks like bone or a tree. If you google ‘lattice structure airplane additive manufacturing’ you’ll see what I mean. With additive manufacturing, you only put material where you need it, which makes parts a lot lighter.

We need to teach people how to think like this, though! Lots of people just want to use additive manufacturing to make parts in the same design, which doesn’t make much sense. Lots of courses are being set up called ‘design for additive manufacturing’ to teach people about this.