As a high school engineering teacher, I have access to a lot of really cool stuff (at least I think it’s cool). One of those things I have access to is a 3D printer. If you don’t know what a 3D printer does, it builds things out of plastic by melting plastic filament and reforming it into whatever design the designer sends it from a computer. It is a pretty cool device and you can make some really impressive stuff with it. But can it be used to print in space?
As a user of a 3D printer and a fan of stories on space, when I saw an article asking that exact question I had to check it out. The argument is that 3D printing can be used to make buildings or spacecraft while actually out in space. The article goes on to say:
through regulation of the temperature of the melted metallic powder during deposition, AM can make the part less likely to crack during use over a long time. Machine learning and artificial intelligence, guided by data from sensors and cameras in large-scale 3D printers, are helping to perfect the process.
They are making all kind of things on earth with 3D printers including entire car frames and parts of buildings. Also according to the article, NASA has used these type of printers for a long time and say that it works well in a zero gravity environment.
I find this an interesting thing to think and talk about. Being a big fan of outer space and shows about outer space, documentaries and fantasy series. I am not sure that 3D printing in space will ever be a thing. I know that I certainly would not want to be the guy to go and set the system up on the moon. What do you guys think? Is it a good thing to try? Will it ever happen? Will we ever build warp drive and explore all of space? Let me know in the comment section down below or on Twitter or Facebook.