Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have manufactured their first tool using the 3D printer on board the station. “Example use cases include a medical device company prototyping space-optimized designs, or a satellite manufacturer testing new deployable geometries, or creating tools for ISS crew members”.
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“I am extremely grateful that I was given the opportunity to design something for fabrication on the space station”, Hillan said.
Almost two hundred days later NASA astronaut Tim Kopra is returning to earth.
NASA has entered a new era of space engineering.
Not only did Hillan get to watch his tool being made, he also got to spend a few minutes chatting with astronauts on the station.
NASA 3D Printer program manager Niki Werkheiser explained in a press release that replacing or repairing parts or tools in space can be quite hard and expensive, but not if 3D printing was involved.
“When you have a problem, it will drive specific requirements and solutions”. That’s the beauty of this tool and this technology.
The 3D printer, which is more accurately called an Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) was built by a company called Made In Space.
“With this technology, we can build what is needed on demand instead of waiting for resupply. But even this plastic version I think would work up to a certain torque value, so well done, I think it’s really cool…I think this tool will be useful, we were just talking about it, Jeff and I, you know, what’s cool about it is oftentimes you’re having to look for a deep well socket, well, you don’t need a deep well socket when you have this!”
Hillan’s winning tool is a functional mechanical tool with a number of different features.
The next step in the development of Hillan’s tool would be to produce a version in metal, but this is still a challenge to undertake in space. See Future Engineers for results and the latest information about the series.
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The space agency said Wednesday University of Alabama sophomore Robert Hillan developed the Mulitpurpose Precision Maintenance Tool as an entry to the Future Engineers Space Tool Challenge.
