Posted on 01/29/2023 7:25:39 AM PST by BenLurkin
NASA completed a round of testing last year with the "rotating detonation rocket engine," which generates thrust using fuel-saving supersonic combustion, agency officials wrote(opens in new tab) in an update on Wednesday (Jan. 25).
Those tests were very early-stage, but agency officials say that future iterations of the technology could be used on moon or Mars missions, for robotic probes or crewed landers.
Expanding humanity's footprint across the solar system will require a fundamental rethink of how we approach long-distance travel, with both fuel and time, exploration advocates say.
Getting to Mars with current propulsion technology takes six to nine months. Slashing the travel time is a priority for NASA, which wants to make the trip more efficient and safer for astronauts. For example, the agency is working with DARPA to develop one possible superfast option, nuclear thermal propulsion, with the goal of demonstrating such a system in space by 2027.
The rotating detonation rocket engine could be part of the agency's exploration toolkit someday as well. In the recent tests, the engine was hot-fired on a stand at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama more than 12 times, adding up to almost 10 minutes of total firing duration.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Very cool technology in both the manufacturing and in the detonation rocket.
Rhyan
I've been interested in 3D printing for decades, and always felt it'd revolutionize a lot of industries, if not all of them. At some point, once speed, costs and materials all match up, I suppose it's possible most manufacturing will be printed.
Outside of medicine, one of the industries that I've always felt would benefit is auto parts. One day you won't have to wait for a part, especially plastic or electronics (sensors, etc.) -- you'll just call Advance and they'll print it in the store. Saves on inventory, and as long as there's a (correct) file for the part -- regardless of the model or make -- you'll always be able to get it.
If I had the money or the time I'd try to get that started...
I think Elon Musk has been flying 3-D printed rocket engines for several years.
3D printing is, IMHO, the only way we get off our addiction to cheap Chinese goods.
Almost sounds like a multi-barrel version of the old Pulse Detonation Engine used on the V-1 Flying Bombs during WWII.
3-D printing is the best way to create a manufacturing operation on the Moon, Mars etc.
If you combine it with underground settlements then you have a long term plan that can work.
I beat up on NASA a lot, but this is a sound concept.
I have owned and worked on friend's 3D printers for quite a few years now. I have designed and printed useful things and printed broken parts that were not available for purchase. They are cheap... There really is no good excuse not to get one and learn about them with hands on experience, which is far more valuable than anything that you will ever read about.
You should also check out
to see the types of projects that others have posted that you can print without doing any of your own design work. There might even be a project or two that you would be interested in printing or modifying and then printing.
For fun I modified this blower project
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:135718
into a gear box that spins a bicycle dynamo with a bridge rectifier can charge batteries much quicker than most similar hand cranked chargers that you can purchase. I also designed a bolt on venturi from the ground up that I used to convert our generator to natural gas. It is more efficient and much cheaper than ones that can be purchased. I cannot tell you how many items I have been able to print replacement parts for that would have been thrown out.
Here is a printer which is not the cheapest but has nearly 9000 mostly positive reviews and is basically open source meaning that you can replace parts as needed with generic pieces, and print with many types of inexpensive and easily available filaments.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GYRQVYV/
Here is a cheaper one if your budget won't allow you to go with a name brand.
https://www.amazon.com/Voxelab-Structure-Certified-Removable-8-66x8-66x9-84in/dp/B09BNG5884/
Oh, sorry -- I don't mean I don't have the time or money for a 3D printer -- I meant I don't have the time or money to start a business as a vendor setting up auto parts retailers/warehouses with the equipment needed to produce car parts with a 3D printer.
And I'm talking a printing system that can produce nearly ANY small part for nearly ANY car, engine parts especially, so it's a major undertaking.
I have looked at printers for myself personally, especially the stereolithography printers, which seem to produce the nicest quality/smoother prints.
If you are really interested in starting any type of 3D printing business you should first acquire a 3D printer and start working with it. Otherwise, you are going to be repeating what you have read with no actual basis in personal experience. Stereolithography printers are available for inexpensive prices as well. They are capable of producing very smooth prints. I am not sure if you understand why this is so and they also have some severe limitation.
This name brand resin printer is just $139!
https://www.amazon.com/Official-Photocuring-Precision-Monochrome-5-12x3-23x6-3inch/dp/B08HLDM8XK/
I have to admit that I have had some interest in this type of printer, but if you look into it from an experienced point of view as I have, you probably would realize that they are not currently as useful as a standard filament printer. And they come with some real disadvantages.
Thanks for the info, but I’m not a noob who just dropped out of the womb. I’ve been a graphic designer my whole life, worked with everything from paper cutters, laser cutters to CNC routers. Even designed and cut one of my own electric guitars on a CNC router.
Been eyeing 3D printers since they were 10s of thousands of dollars, way out of the reach of ordinary folk, and it’s nice to finally see them become affordable.
And I’m just thinking out loud, honestly, when I talk about starting a business with them. I have no real interest in pursuing it.
And they’ll only need $50 billion in taxpayer money and three decades to perfect it!
Wait a second NASA built something ?
There was probably a science fair. Lol.
Very sorry to have been a bother to you. I always jump at the chance to discuss 3D printing with others here. I have to laugh at you saying that you are glad that they have "finally become affordable”.
I was interested from earlier times as you were, but 3D printing has been a passion of mine since 2016 when I purchased a new Monoprice 13860 Maker Select 3d Printer V2 for $235 which is the same as a Wanhao Duplicator 3. That was 7 years ago. This printer is still available for purchase new with a few minor upgrades for about the same price.
We are surely still many years from your vision. Here is an interesting article on the history of 3D Printing that might help give some perspective.
Not a bother at all, and I may still pick up a 3D printer at some point. It'd only be a hobby for me, though, and I already have too many of those!
When Formlabs started with their first printer, through Kickstarter, I was seriously close to jumping on, but ultimately decided to wait. Neat little setup, though, and the one you linked to earlier reminds me of their "Form" series.
Back around 2000 is when I first started looking, and I don't remember the manufacturer (3D Systems, maybe?), but the printers were huge honking beasts -- with a price that matched their size! But, I know they were meant for industrial use (prototyping and/or manufacturing) as well, so that was probably also reflected in the price.
Yup.
[snip] “Through 3D printing, robust and high-performing engine parts can be created at a fraction of the cost and time of traditional manufacturing methods,” said Elon Musk, Chief Designer and CEO of SpaceX, back in 2014 during the unveiling of the world’s first fully 3D-printed rocket engine at SpaceX. [/snip]
https://3dprint.com/267919/ahead-of-historic-demo-2-astronaut-launch-all-spacex-has-3d-printed/
That would be a huge understatement for me as well. And the truth working with a 3D printer can be very time consuming and exasperating. I spent eight years as a young man setting up and running machines in a lumber remanufacturing plant and it reminds me a bit of some of the challenges that I faced doing that.
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