Advanced Computing in the Age of AI | Thursday, March 28, 2024

Additive Manufacturing Used to Create Durable Parts for Manned Martian Exploration 

Now undergoing testing in the Arizona desert, the big rover features 70 parts that were created using Stratasys Fused Deposition Modeling technology.

Stratasys, a NCMS Member and supplier of additive manufacturing machinery and materials to NCMS’ 21-year Government-Industry additive manufacturing collaborative program, has a new feather in its cap – providing FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling™) printed parts that will wind up on Mars.

Some twelve years ago, NCMS’ collaborative program partner, NASA’s Ken Cooper, an engineer at Marshall Space Flight Center, first tested the performance of Stratasys’ FDM process in micro and zero gravity environments.  The results can be found in this early white paper at http://www.laserlines.co.uk/htm/rp/fortus_whitePapers.htm .

Now, the Hummer-sized NASA rover created by Desert RATS (Research and Technology Studies) is moving ahead towards the next Giant Step for Mankind – human exploration of Mars. This will be a fitting follow-on to the picture-perfect landing of NASA’s unmanned Curiosity rover on August 6.

With a cabin that can accommodate a pair of astronauts for days, twelve rugged wheels on six axles for maneuvering irregular terrain, and a cockpit that can tilt and move its observation bubble close to the ground, this agile vehicle is currently being tested in the Arizona desert.

About 70 of the FDM parts for this impressive creation were built digitally, directly from computer design on a production-grade, Stratasys 3D Printer, the only 3D-printing method that supports lightweight and durable production grade thermoplastics. These parts include flame-retardant vents and housings, camera mounts, large pod doors, the front bumper and many custom fixtures.

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