Feb 22, 2017 | By Benedict
Aerospace company Boeing is planning to use 3D printing in an effort to produce cheaper satellites in a shorter timespan. The 3D printed modular satellites would also require fewer workers to build.
The price tag on your average Boeing satellite is a whopping $150 million, a price necessitated by both the high-end nature of the satellites themselves and the huge labor costs required to build them. According to the Wall Street Journal, however, that system could be about to change, with Boeing looking to implement additive manufacturing technologies in order to produce cheaper, modular satellites that can be built at a much faster rate than current models.
At present, Chicago-headquartered Boeing churns out fewer than 10 of its gigantic satellites per year, largely because manual assembly is required for many critical parts. And while the current practice results in high-quality satellites, it’s a business model that won’t last, especially since competitors like Airbus will soon be able to produce hundreds of smaller satellites per year at a cost of just $500,000 each. But where Airbus is building a futuristic automated assembly line in Florida that will enable it to speed up production, Boeing’s Satellite Systems VP Paul Rusnock is eyeing a different route to increased efficiency.
According to Rusnock, 3D printing could be Boeing’s golden ticket to a faster, cheaper era of satellite production. The aerospace giant has already started implementing additive technologies at its Los Angeles facility, and is looking at ways to scale up—for both commercial projects and different satellite models. Boeing won’t be able to match the production speed of Airbus, since it needs to make much larger satellites, but the company hopes that 3D printing will bring satellite production nearer to the speed of its aircraft production: an entire Boeing 737 plane can be built in just 11 days.
While 3D printing should help Boeing to produce satellites much faster, and at a lower cost, the company will have to make some sacrifices. For example, modular satellites comprised of put-together elements can only last seven to eight years, less than the 15 years that can be squeezed out of a satellite built with manual assembly. This, however, could be a blessing in disguise, since a shorter shelf life means that Boeing can put out new satellites containing up-to-date technology at a faster rate.
Earlier this month, Boeing contracted Oxford Performance Materials to 3D print 600 parts for its Starliner Space Taxis.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
Maybe you also like:
- T-Bone Cape motion control board launches on Indiegogo
- New extruder could lower costs of 3D printing cellular structures for drug testing
- New Ninja Printer Plate for consumer 3D printing
- mUVe3D releases improved Marlin firmware for all 3D printers
- Zecotek plans HD 3D display for 3D printers
- Add a smart LCD controller to your Robo3D printer
- Maker Kase: a handy cabinet for 3D printers
- Heated bed for ABS printing with the Printrbot Simple XL
- Next gen all metal 3D printer extruder from Micron
- Pico all-metal hotend 100% funded in 48 hours, B3 announces Stretch Goal
- Create it REAL announces first 3D printing Real Time Processor
- A larger and more powerful 3D printer extruder on Kickstarter
Awwww, space junk the likes of never before.
3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.
