Protolabs Serves as Quick-turn Collaborator in NASA Generative Design Project
2024年7月17日 - 9:00PM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Digital manufacturing leader meets challenge
from NASA engineers to rapidly manufacture a generatively designed
space travel apparatus; delivers part in 36 hours
In coordination with digital manufacturing leader Protolabs,
engineers at NASA recently showcased the power of their AI-driven
design tool at the PowerSource Global Summit, an annual conference
bringing together technology leaders across disciplines.
On the first day of the conference, NASA engineers challenged
attendees to provide inputs for generative design to create a
prototype apparatus for collecting gas samples released by sunlight
hitting the moon as part of NASA’s ongoing Artemis moon exploration
missions.
The crowdsourced constraints defined desired traits of the
sample collection container like modularity, stack-ability,
scalability, and how a person or robot would interact with the
device. Simultaneously, the geometries and part qualities
identified had to ensure the part was machinable while maintaining
strict size requirements.
NASA’s generative design software then produced a CAD file based
on those constraints that was ready for machining in Protolabs’
digital factory that evening. The goal was to deliver the part by
the conference’s wrap-up two days later.
“For this demonstration to be successful, we knew that any
manufacturer we went with [to make the part], needed to deliver the
part we ordered on-time, there was no room for error or delay,”
said Matthew Vaerewyck, a mechanical engineer at NASA’s Goddard
Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Protolabs was uniquely
positioned to achieve this feat for NASA, as the only digital
manufacturer in the world that combines the digital thread with
speed, reliability, and quality.
Vaerewyck uploaded the part’s CAD file to Protolabs’ digital
quoting platform. The organic design went through 19 hours of
toolpathing at Protolabs’ CNC machining facility. The part was then
shipped from Minnesota to the conference in Florida, arriving
before the final day’s activities began, less than 36 hours after
the order was placed.
The first-of-its-kind experiment was deemed a resounding
success. NASA was able to demonstrate the power of generative
design to cut down on iterations and significantly reduce
development time while also creating parts that meet stringent
spaceflight constraints. Protolabs, enabled by its quick-turn
digital manufacturing capabilities, served as a key partner,
bringing the part to life for conference attendees to see.
“We couldn’t have been more excited to serve as the
manufacturing partner in this novel exercise showcasing the impact
of combining generative design with automated manufacturing,” Greg
Thompson, senior director of CNC machining at Protolabs. “As a
company that has revolutionized manufacturing, Protolabs is proud
to play a role in NASA’s mission to push the boundaries of
innovation to enable space exploration.”
Learn more here:
https://www.protolabs.com/resources/partnerships/nasa/
About Protolabs
Protolabs is the fastest and most comprehensive digital
manufacturing service in the world. Our digital factories produce
low-volume parts in days while Protolabs Network unlocks advanced
capabilities and volume pricing through its highly vetted
manufacturing partners. The result? One manufacturing source—from
prototyping to production—for product developers, engineers, and
supply chain teams across the globe. See what's next at
protolabs.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240717084894/en/
Investor Relations Contacts: Protolabs Ryan Johnsrud,
612-225-4873 Manager, Investor Relations and FP&A
ryan.johnsrud@protolabs.com
Gateway Group, Inc. 949-574-3860 PRLB@gateway-grp.com
Media Contact: Protolabs Brent Renneke, 763-479-7704
Marketing Communications Manager brent.renneke@protolabs.com
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