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Oct 27, 2014

3D-printing objects containing multiple metals and alloys

Posted by in category: 3D printing

Kurweil AI

Researchers at NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, and Pennsylvania State University have developed a 3D printing process that transitions from one metal or alloy to another in a single object.

For example, they created a prototype of an improved telescope mirror mount. The part at the top near the glass mirror is made of a metal with low thermal expansion, so that it won’t shrink in space as much as most metals do. That prevents stress in the epoxy adhesive between the mirror and the metal. The bottom part of this mount is stronger stainless steel and could be connected to a stainless steel component of a spacecraft.

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  1. Jere Brinkley says:

    This has so much potential in the General and Civil Aviation industries. Finding affordable replacement parts are a constant headache as is Airworthiness Directives (ADs) compliance for whatever is the latest issue in your aircraft model. I like the article as an aircraft owner because I would be able to go to my local A&P for aircraft parts or things found during an annual such as a bracket on a landing gear for example that must be pulled out every so often and do some NDT (Non Destructive Testing) on the thing to check for cracks or any number of other components that need servicing or replacement from time to time. There is a lot of potential here if the FAA bureaucracy can be controlled.