South Korean researchers have achieved a major milestone in space manufacturing by successfully testing the world’s first 3D-printed titanium fuel tank to pass extreme cryogenic pressure conditions, marking a breakthrough that could transform how spacecraft components are produced.
The 640mm diameter tank, manufactured using Ti64 titanium alloy through Directed Energy Deposition (DED) 3D printing, withstood pressures of 330 bar while cooled to -196°C with liquid nitrogen during testing at the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The pressure test exposed the tank to forces 165 times greater than standard tire pressure, demonstrating its reliability under the extreme conditions of space missions.
From what I can understand this isn’t necessarily stronger or better than existing solutions but much more flexible while be just as strong. This method would allow to produce larger variety of space vehicles and much much faster.
NASA has been 3d printing fuel tanks for a little while now. pretty sure it wasn’t titanium though
Didn’t know that - very cool!
This would give the ability to just send raw stock to space and just print what is needed. Now if we can just get a space elevator we can send up compact filament.
or even better, refined astroids in space!
Gotta build the mining equipment first.
Wire Arc DED Additive Manufacturing has taken a back seat to Laser Metal Powder Bed Fusion for a while now, driven a lot by the air sector. But it is great seeing industry shift it’s focus to Wire Arc. Larger scale components and better established feedstock supply (welding wire) with a lower cost of entry for equipment is an appealing proposition for many manufacturers.
There is still the issue with qualification of additive parts.
Slight issue with the article is with the supply of Ti64. Bringing the production capability in country doesn’t fix the supply issue for high quality feedstock that is predominantly imported from China, Ukraine etc.
That’s quite frankly impressive. 3D printing is getting really really interesting as time goes on.
