Image Credit Wired
Objects made by 3D printers are known for their versatility, but not always for their durability. It’s the same reason you’re more likely to trust a solid oak plank over a piece of particleboard, even though the second option is cheaper; when something has been broken into small pieces and put back together, it’s usually easier to break again. But NASA is determined to prove that even an object from a 3D printer can be used under high-intensity conditions – including the engine of a rocket ship.
NASA’s Engine Piece
Sadly, NASA hasn’t been able to create an entire working engine with a 3D printer yet; still, they’ve got at least one part down: the fuel injector. A fuel injector is an engine piece that channels the chemicals needed to fuel the engine, from gas in a car to the oxygen and hydrogen used in rocket engines. The part, made out of nickel-chromium plating, is still in development. But on August 28th, it successfully passed on of its most strenuous heat tests yet:
The fuel injector was able to generate 20,000 pounds of thrust – a full ten times more than any other injector manufactured by a 3D printer. The analysis shows that it withstood temperatures of 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is very good news for its potential use in future engines.
Cheaper Rocket Ships?
The goal of the creation of this fuel injector is to prove that 3D printers are a viable way to create parts for heavy machinery, including rocket engines. 3D printing is an extremely cost-effective way to create nearly any item, assuming that you can make it out of the right materials. By using 3D printing to make engine production more affordable, there’s a chance that all kinds of travel, from carts to rocket ships, could become more affordable.
Of course, this fuel injector is just a small step in the process. It will be years before we see a complete hull printed out pieces by piece, if it ever happens. But for now, every improvement on 3D printing technology opens up countless possibilities.