UK ALM in Space Workshop

Tuesday 9th April 2013

Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry

Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM), or 3D printing, is based upon the principles of rapid prototyping. It allows single products to be manufactured from a fine powder of metal (such as titanium, stainless steel or aluminium), nylon or carbonreinforced plastics and is regarded by the European Space Agency as an extremely promising technology for the spaceindustry. In fact the evaluation of the use of Additive Layer Manufacturing for satellite products, including components for space and ground segments, rapid prototyping and support to assembly, integration and test (AIT) activities has been ongoing by the European space industry for a number of years. Some of the benefits already identified for space applications include:

• Low cost of material resulting from low utilisation
• Freedom to manufacture complex shapes.
• Reduce the number of parts for complex assemblies.
• Reduction in lead time leading to
• Rapid prototyping
• Rapid manufacturing of models

However, the use of this technology in space is not without it’s own challenges such as investigating methods to obtain a smooth finish for different materials and strengthening lightweight hollow structures. This workshop aims to review ongoing ALM developments for commercial space applications and assess the current state of UK ALM capabilities. The workshop will conclude with a working session to identify challenges specific to the space industry and key ALM capabilities that the UK needs to maintain and/or develop in order to grow and maintain a strong competitive position in the use of ALM for space.

The workshop is free and open to anyone from UK industry and academia with an interest in the use of ALM for commercial space applications.