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| Image Credit: NASA photo/David Olive |
NASA joins the 3D printing trend with a rocket part which survived a 6,000 degree test-firing. The test took place in NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama on August 28th. The idea of using 3D printing is to lower costs and raise efficiency without any compromises.
The rocket injector (fuel injectors) was made based on the process known as selective laser melting. Selective laser melting is printing each part by layering metal powder and fusing it together with a laser. This allows less errors to be made with improved performance and less prone to failures. With 3D printing, tests and improvements can be made faster and easier than ever.
The printed rocket injector was similar in size to a exploration class injector. During the two tests each 5 seconds long, two rockets injectors. Creating 20,000 pounds of pressure with 1,400 pounds per square inch and producing up to 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
