News 3-D printer working on lunar regolith

[PeterRoss]

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-11/wsu-wru112712.php

 

[paddy2]

Imagine been told on the way to the moon
"Instead of an ascent stage lads we've given you a shiney new Printer, saves weight!""

 

[PeterRoss]

Imagine been told on the way to the moon
"Instead of an ascent stage lads we've given you a shiney new Printer, saves weight!""

:lol:

On a serious note: I wonder if the same technology may be used for large-scale construction elements.

 

[statickid]

"it doesn't look fantastic, but you can make something out of it"

this statement makes me a little wary of the end product

 

[Ark]

Any long-duration space mission would have to have significant on-site fabrication capabilities. You can't throw out the whole missions because a 10-cent plastic piece broke.

Okay, it's NASA, $200 plastic piece.

 

[paddy2]

As for large scale I would think the size of the "print" bed would be a limiting factor but take a mental jump back to a Henry Ford snr factory, a Ford factory now with robots and then into a factory with 3D printers.

Gents, I have seen what you guys can do with a 3D mesh....

 

[RisingFury]

 

[kamaz]

On a serious note: I wonder if the same technology may be used for large-scale construction elements.

Sintering of lunar regolith to produce building materials has been investigated back in 1980s and found viable. Start here and follow the references.