This week, the European Space Agency announced the (poorly named) “Additive Manufacturing Aiming Towards Zero Waste & Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products” program codenamed (more aptly) AMAZE. This program aims to produce metal parts capable of withstanding the extremes of the space environment with zero waste by using a new manufacturing technique called 3d Printing. This method of manufacturing creates parts layer by layer, either by using heat to melt plastic filament (the most low-cost 3d printers are of this variety), using liquid binder as a “glue” to hold plastic powder together (this was one of the first kind of 3d printer), or more recently fusing powder directly using a laser (a process called Selective Laser Sintering or SLS).

The BBC did a great write-up of the motivations and methods behind the AMAZE program and its implications for fusion research. A researcher qutoed in this article indicates that if you can produce items that are capable of withstanding the space environment, commercial nuclear fusion becomes possible. NASA also recently tested a rocket nozzle that was 3d printed using SLS:

Image Credit:NASA/MSFC



which burns at over 6000°F. Also, this feat was repeated by a few students (with help from NASA) from University of California at San Diego but for a rocket engine burning at over 3000°F. At these temperatures, it may be possible to make turbine blades for jet engines, which are some of the most complex manufactured parts in any machine because in advanced jet engines, the blades operate above the melting point of the materials they are manufactured from.

While all this sounds like it is merely the curiosity of a few engineers at play, companies and governments are starting to take notice. GE is attempting to manufacture fuel nozzles parts for jet engines from 3d printers. Similar to the AMAZE program, President Obama thought it was important enough to mention in his State of the Union address this year and provide funding to open up a cooperative exploratory lab. Even the Army is getting in on the deal.

What does this mean for you? Well, with Staples starting to sell 3d printers, Amazon selling 3d printer refill filament, and outsourced playgrounds where you can rent tools (3d printers included) for a monthly membership, there is a shift going on from traditional manufacturing to empowering individuals with creativity to be able to develop and make their own things. The ‘maker’ movement is a good example of this attitude where people create things on their own rather than waiting for someone else to develop the toy.

The political and security implications of the shift are hopeful but also frightening. Earlier this year, a lawyer with an interest in pushing the boundaries of politics with technology developed a 3d printed plastic gun that was capable of firing. The non-profit group was properly licensed to manufacture firearms, however when they gave away the plans on the internet, it was quickly shuttered by the Department of State. In a world where free speech allows anyone with creativity, know-how and ambition to create the ‘next big thing’ and the plans are released instantaneously, the need for human decency and dignity to temper blind faith in technology is ever more apparent (a similar view was expressed by Eric Schmidt in his book “The New Digital Age”).