3D Printer Successfully Tested on Parabolic Flights

3D printing in space is no longer a myth: it’s possible to design 3D parts in such a demanding environment, where gravity presents obvious constraints and obstacles. Numerous projects have demonstrated that it is possible to create a wide variety of components on board a spacecraft. One of these is the LASED (Laser Ablation and Sintering Enabling Deposition) machine. This is a compact 3D printer capable of generating nanoparticles, depositing materials via a nozzle and sintering powder. If these features are already noteworthy, add to that the fact that it can print in microgravity. So far, it has been successfully tested on board a Boeing, which has produced parabolic arcs that provide 23 to 25 seconds of microgravity.

Masoud Mahjouri-Samani is a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Auburn University. When describing the LASED machine, he explains: “It’s a fully functional machine. Everything is integrated. You can program it to complete complex tasks in 20 seconds. In space, without that time constraint, it can do even more.” In concrete terms, it measures just 60 cm in length and consumes less than 500 watts, making it extremely practical for applications aboard a spaceship where every square meter counts.

From left to right: Colton Bevel, Masoud Mahjouri-Samani and Aarsh Patel, in front of the LASED 3D printer.

The aim was to design a solution capable of 3D printing parts in microgravity conditions, to avoid long and costly supply chains. Having a 3D printer in space gives astronauts a great deal of freedom, particularly when they need flexible electronic components. It’s this type of application that Masoud Mahjouri-Samani’s team has been focusing on.