3D Programs, an industry-leading 3D printing firm, is collaborating with researchers from Penn State College and Arizona State College on two NASA-sponsored tasks geared toward redefining thermal administration in area. These tasks deal with the excessive temperature fluctuations that may compromise delicate spacecraft parts, a number one reason for mission failure.
Leveraging its Direct Steel Printing (DMP) know-how, tailor-made supplies, and Oqton’s 3DXpert software program, 3D Programs helps engineer next-generation warmth rejection programs for satellites and exploratory spacecraft.
One venture—spearheaded by Penn State, Arizona State, and NASA Glenn Analysis Middle in collaboration with 3D Programs’ Software Innovation Group—focuses on titanium-based warmth pipe radiators. Additively manufactured with embedded high-temperature passive warmth pipes, these parts are 50% lighter and function at larger temperatures than present options, bettering warmth radiation in high-power programs.
The second initiative, led by Penn State and NASA Glenn, pushes even additional by producing one of many first purposeful elements in nickel-titanium (nitinol) form reminiscence alloy (SMA). These radiators deploy passively when heated, eliminating the necessity for motors or actuators in area. The SMA radiator’s deployed-to-stowed space ratio is 6× larger than typical options, a leap ahead for CubeSats and small-scale missions.
Historically, warmth pipes require complicated manufacturing to create inner wick constructions. Right here, the analysis workforce embedded a porous community straight into the pipe partitions utilizing 3DXpert software program and printed them monolithically in titanium and nitinol utilizing DMP. The titanium-water warmth pipes functioned reliably at 230°C and weighed simply 3 kg/m²—half the burden of normal fashions—assembly NASA’s efficiency and cost-to-launch benchmarks.
The SMA radiators provide equally transformative positive aspects: 70% lighter (<6 kg/m² vs. 19 kg/m²) and a 12× deployed-to-stowed space ratio. Their shape-memory conduct permits them to activate with inner fluid warmth, enabling actuation-free deployment.
“Our long-standing R&D partnership with 3D Programs has enabled pioneering analysis for using 3D printing for aerospace purposes,” stated Alex Rattner, affiliate professor at Penn State.
3D Programs has already delivered over 2,000 structural parts and 200 passive RF elements at present in flight, with {hardware} built-in into greater than 15 lively satellites.