CosmicMaker Space Business Launched After Successful Zero-G 3D Printing Tests
Photocentric has spun out its CosmicMaker space 3D printing business following successful demonstrations of its technology on parabolic flights, aiming to become a key provider for lunar manufacturing.
Photocentric has officially launched CosmicMaker Ltd., a new business entity dedicated to space-based 3D printing. The company's ambition is to establish itself as the primary solution for manufacturing components on the Moon.
This development follows a series of successful trials of the CosmicMaker 3D printer concept aboard Novespace's Airbus A310 Zero G aircraft. During three parabolic flights, three identical printers operated under varying gravitational conditions, ranging from 2g to 0g, to test their functionality.
The CosmicMaker printer utilizes Photocentric's patented LCD screen technology, enclosed within a chamber, a process developed in 2020 specifically for space applications. The company has secured support from the UK Space Agency through ESA's BSGN program and has been awarded three grants for the printer's manufacturing and validation.
Based on Photocentric's established LCD printing technology, the CosmicMaker is designed to be low mass, lightweight, and energy-efficient. It is capable of printing with a variety of materials including plastics, ceramics, metals, and composites. Test prints were successfully produced in silicon carbide, alumina, and two types of thermoset plastics, with results described as dimensionally accurate. Notably, the process demonstrated improved particle distribution in ceramic slurries during 0g phases and did not require additional supports, leading Photocentric to suggest the printer may perform better in space than on Earth.
The spin-off of CosmicMaker and its successful zero-gravity testing highlight the growing focus on additive manufacturing for extraterrestrial applications. The ability to print with diverse materials, including ceramics and composites, and the potential for improved performance in microgravity, are crucial for in-situ resource utilization and reducing payload mass for future space missions, including lunar bases.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.