Producing 3D parts in space. Made In Space: Update. Last week we mentioned Made In Space's achievement of testing two commercial 3D printers in a simulated weightless environment.
But we wondered which 3D printers were used, as the material we saw did not specify the printer involved - only that one of the printers originated from 3D Systems. Today we see a press release from 3D Systems that says: 3D Systems Corporation (NYSE:DDD) announced today that its affordable BfB™ 3000 3D printer successfully completed two zero-gravity test flights in partnership with MADE IN SPACE, a start-up dedicated to providing solutions for manufacturing in outer space. So, the mystery 3D printer was the very solid BFB 3000! MADE IN SPACE. EBF3: Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication - Fabbaloo Blog - Fabbaloo. Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication is yet another approach for 3D printing, this time developed by the rocket scientists at NASA.
They have good reasons for developing EBF3: to save weight on cargo flights to the International Space Station. You can imagine the hefty pile of spare parts that must be carried up yonder and stored somewhere inside a cardboard box in the attic of the ISS. Why carry and store parts when you could print them whenever you need them? Printing Power Supplies.