On August 22nd, NASA tested its largest-yet 3-D printed rocket engine component. It withstood ten times (20,000 pounds) the thrust previously generated by an engine that included 3-D components. The laser-melted nickel-chrome fuel injection component, which is similar to those designed for the RS-25 engines that are going to power the giant Space Launch System (SLS) rocket booster in future deep space missions and which withstood temperatures of 6,000° F (3,300° C) and pressures of 1,400 psi, was built by Directed Manufacturing Inc of Austin, Texas. NASA is the owner of the design.
The injector was made from two parts. The previous one like it was made from 115. 3-D printing is far more cost efficient.
Brad Bullard, the propulsion engineer who came up with the injector design, says “We took the design of an existing injector that we already tested and modified the design so the injector could be made with a 3-D printer. We will be able to directly compare test data for both the traditionally assembled injector and the 3-D printed injector to see if there’s any difference in performance.”
Greg Barnett, lead engineer for the project, adds “This entire effort helped us learn what it takes to build larger 3-D parts – from design, to manufacturing, to testing. This technology can be applied to any of SLS‘s engines, or to rocket components being built by private industry.”
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Images courtesy of NASA.
Original story source: article by science writer David Szondy.
