Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has become the first institution in the USA to install a CeraFab Multi 2M30 from Lithoz. The ceramic 3D printer will be used for research projects in the fields of aerospace and lunar exploration. The technology enables the printing of high-precision components with complex geometries and can combine different ceramic or metal materials in one printing process.
The CeraFab Multi 2M30 is a further development of additive manufacturing for high-performance ceramics. The machine enables the printing of wear-resistant surfaces and the production of functional sensors for the use of resources on the moon. Dr. Seetha Raghavan, Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle, emphasizes the importance of the technology for material development: “The ability to print customized combinations of ceramics with the highest precision will significantly accelerate our research.”
The printer has already been used for various projects, including the NASA C.R.A.T.E.R. challenge. In this competition, the university’s research team developed bio-inspired ceramic surface structures designed to minimize the adhesion of lunar dust. Such designs, which are based on natural water-repellent surfaces such as lotus leaves, are important for future lunar missions.
The installation of the Lithoz system in Daytona Beach was announced at the International Conference on Advanced Ceramics and Composites (ICACC).
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