Kusukela ngekhulu lama-20, uhlanga lwesintu belulokhu luthanda ukuhlola isikhala nokuqonda okungaphezu koMhlaba. Izinhlangano ezinkulu ezifana ne-NASA ne-ESA bezilokhu zihola ekuhloleni isikhala, futhi omunye umdlali obalulekile kulokhu kunqoba ukuphrinta kwe-3D. Njengoba ikhono lokukhiqiza ngokushesha izingxenye eziyinkimbinkimbi ngezindleko eziphansi, lobu buchwepheshe bokuklama buya ngokuya buthandwa ezinkampanini. Kwenza ukudalwa kwezinhlelo zokusebenza eziningi kube nokwenzeka, njengeziphuphutheki, amasudi esikhala, kanye nezingxenye zamarokhethi. Eqinisweni, ngokusho kwe-SmarTech, inani lemakethe lokukhiqiza izengezo embonini yesikhala yangasese kulindeleke ukuthi lifinyelele ku-€2.1 billion ngo-2026. Lokhu kuphakamisa umbuzo: Ukuphrinta kwe-3D kungabasiza kanjani abantu ukuba baphumelele emkhathini?
Ekuqaleni, ukuphrinta kwe-3D kwakusetshenziselwa kakhulu ukwenza ama-prototyping okusheshayo embonini yezokwelapha, yezimoto, kanye neyezindiza. Kodwa-ke, njengoba ubuchwepheshe sebusabalele kakhulu, busetshenziswa kakhulu ezingxenyeni zenhloso yokugcina. Ubuchwepheshe bokukhiqiza okungeziwe kwensimbi, ikakhulukazi i-L-PBF, buvumele ukukhiqizwa kwezinsimbi ezahlukahlukene ezinezici nokuqina okufanelekela izimo zesikhala esibi kakhulu. Obunye ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D, njenge-DED, i-binder jetting, kanye nenqubo yokukhipha, busetshenziswa futhi ekwenziweni kwezingxenye zezindiza. Eminyakeni yamuva nje, kuye kwavela amamodeli amasha ebhizinisi, nezinkampani ezifana ne-Made in Space kanye ne-Relativity Space zisebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D ukuklama izingxenye zezindiza.
I-Relativity Space ethuthukisa iphrinta ye-3D embonini yezindiza
Ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D ezindiza
Manje njengoba sesizethule, ake sibheke kabanzi ubuchwepheshe obuhlukahlukene bokuphrinta be-3D obusetshenziswa embonini yezindiza. Okokuqala, kufanele kuqashelwe ukuthi ukukhiqizwa kwezengezo zensimbi, ikakhulukazi i-L-PBF, kusetshenziswa kakhulu kulo mkhakha. Le nqubo ihilela ukusebenzisa amandla e-laser ukuhlanganisa ungqimba lwempuphu yensimbi ngengqimba. Ifaneleka kakhulu ekukhiqizeni izingxenye ezincane, eziyinkimbinkimbi, eziqondile, nezilungiselelwe ngokwezifiso. Abakhiqizi bezindiza bangazuza futhi ku-DED, ehilela ukufaka ucingo lwensimbi noma impuphu futhi isetshenziselwa kakhulu ukulungisa, ukumboza, noma ukukhiqiza izingxenye zensimbi noma ze-ceramic ezenziwe ngokwezifiso.
Ngokuphambene nalokho, ukujikijela nge-binder, nakuba kunenzuzo ngokwejubane lokukhiqiza kanye nezindleko eziphansi, akufaneleki ukukhiqiza izingxenye zemishini ezisebenza kahle kakhulu ngoba kudinga izinyathelo zokuqinisa ngemuva kokucubungula ezandisa isikhathi sokukhiqiza umkhiqizo wokugcina. Ubuchwepheshe bokukhipha buyasebenza futhi endaweni yesikhala. Kufanele kuqashelwe ukuthi akuwona wonke ama-polymer afanele ukusetshenziswa esikhaleni, kodwa amapulasitiki asebenza kahle njenge-PEEK angathatha indawo yezingxenye ezithile zensimbi ngenxa yamandla azo. Kodwa-ke, le nqubo yokunyathelisa ye-3D ayikasabalali kakhulu, kodwa ingaba yimpahla ebalulekile yokuhlola isikhala ngokusebenzisa izinto ezintsha.
I-Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) ubuchwepheshe obusetshenziswa kabanzi ekunyatheliseni kwe-3D kwezindiza.
Amandla Ezinto Zesikhala
Imboni yezindiza ibilokhu ihlola izinto ezintsha ngokunyathelisa kwe-3D, iphakamisa ezinye izindlela ezintsha ezingase ziphazamise imakethe. Ngenkathi izinsimbi ezifana ne-titanium, i-aluminium, kanye ne-nickel-chromium alloys bezilokhu zigxile kakhulu, izinto ezintsha zingase zithathe indawo ngokushesha: i-lunar regolith. I-Lunar regolith iwungqimba lothuli olumboza inyanga, futhi i-ESA ibonise izinzuzo zokuyihlanganisa nokunyathelisa kwe-3D. U-Advenit Makaya, unjiniyela omkhulu wokukhiqiza we-ESA, uchaza i-lunar regolith njengefana nokhonkolo, ikakhulukazi eyenziwe nge-silicon nezinye izakhi zamakhemikhali ezifana ne-iron, i-magnesium, i-aluminium, kanye ne-oxygen. I-ESA ibambisene ne-Lithoz ukukhiqiza izingxenye ezincane ezisebenzayo njengezikulufo namagiya besebenzisa i-lunar regolith eyenziwe ngendlela efanayo enezakhiwo ezifana nothuli lwenyanga lwangempela.
Iningi lezinqubo ezihilelekile ekukhiqizeni i-lunar regolith zisebenzisa ukushisa, okwenza kuhambisane nobuchwepheshe obufana ne-SLS kanye nezixazululo zokuphrinta ze-powder bonding. I-ESA isebenzisa ubuchwepheshe be-D-Shape ngenhloso yokukhiqiza izingxenye eziqinile ngokuxuba i-magnesium chloride nezinto zokwakha nokuyihlanganisa ne-magnesium oxide etholakala kusampula elingisiwe. Enye yezinzuzo ezibalulekile zale nto yenyanga ukucaca kwayo kokuphrinta okuhle, okwenza ikwazi ukukhiqiza izingxenye ngokunemba okuphezulu kakhulu. Lesi sici singaba yimpahla eyinhloko ekwandiseni ububanzi bezicelo kanye nezingxenye zokukhiqiza zezisekelo zelunar zesikhathi esizayo.
I-Lunar Regolith itholakala yonke indawo
Kukhona futhi i-Mars regolith, ebhekisela ezintweni ezingaphansi komhlaba ezitholakala ku-Mars. Njengamanje, izinhlangano zasemkhathini zomhlaba wonke azikwazi ukubuyisa lezi zinto, kodwa lokhu akuzange kuvimbele ososayensi ekucwaningeni amandla azo kumaphrojekthi athile ezindiza. Abacwaningi basebenzisa amasampula alingisiwe alezi zinto futhi bazihlanganisa ne-titanium alloy ukukhiqiza amathuluzi noma izingxenye zerokhethi. Imiphumela yokuqala ikhombisa ukuthi lezi zinto zizonikeza amandla aphezulu futhi zivikele imishini ekugqwaleni nasekulimaleni kwemisebe. Nakuba lezi zinto ezimbili zinezakhiwo ezifanayo, i-lunar regolith iseyizinto ezivivinywe kakhulu. Enye inzuzo ukuthi lezi zinto zingakhiqizwa endaweni ngaphandle kwesidingo sokuthutha izinto zokusetshenziswa ezivela eMhlabeni. Ngaphezu kwalokho, i-regolith iwumthombo wezinto ongapheli, osiza ekuvimbeleni ukusweleka.
Ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D embonini yezindiza
Ukusetshenziswa kobuchwepheshe bokunyathelisa be-3D embonini yezindiza kungahluka kuye ngenqubo ethile esetshenzisiwe. Isibonelo, i-laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) ingasetshenziswa ukukhiqiza izingxenye zesikhashana eziyinkimbinkimbi, njengezinhlelo zamathuluzi noma izingxenye zesikhala. I-Launcher, inkampani entsha eseCalifornia, isebenzise ubuchwepheshe bokunyathelisa be-3D be-sapphire-metal be-Velo3D ukuthuthukisa injini yayo ye-rocket ewuketshezi ye-E-2. Inqubo yomenzi yasetshenziswa ukudala i-induction turbine, edlala indima ebalulekile ekusheshiseni nasekushayeleni i-LOX (i-oxygen ewuketshezi) ekamelweni lokushisa. I-turbine kanye ne-sensor ngayinye yanyatheliswa kusetshenziswa ubuchwepheshe bokunyathelisa be-3D bese ihlanganiswa. Le ngxenye entsha inikeza i-rocket ukugeleza okukhulu koketshezi kanye nomfutho omkhulu, okwenza ibe yingxenye ebalulekile yenjini.
I-Velo3D inegalelo ekusetshenzisweni kobuchwepheshe be-PBF ekukhiqizeni injini yerokhethi yoketshezi ye-E-2.
Ukukhiqiza okungeziwe kunezinhlelo zokusebenza ezibanzi, okuhlanganisa ukukhiqizwa kwezakhiwo ezincane nezinkulu. Isibonelo, ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D njengesixazululo se-Relativity Space's Stargate bungasetshenziswa ukukhiqiza izingxenye ezinkulu njengethangi likaphethiloli le-rocket kanye nama-propeller blades. I-Relativity Space ikuqinisekisile lokhu ngokukhiqiza ngempumelelo i-Terran 1, irokhethi eliphrintiwe cishe ngokuphelele nge-3D, okuhlanganisa nethangi likaphethiloli elingamamitha amaningana ubude. Ukwethulwa kwayo kokuqala ngoMashi 23, 2023, kubonise ukusebenza kahle nokuthembeka kwezinqubo zokukhiqiza okungeziwe.
Ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D obusekelwe ekukhishweni buvumela nokukhiqizwa kwezingxenye kusetshenziswa izinto ezisebenza kahle njenge-PEEK. Izingxenye ezenziwe ngale thermoplastic sezivele zihlolwe emkhathini futhi zabekwa ku-Rashid rover njengengxenye yomsebenzi wenyanga we-UAE. Inhloso yalolu vivinyo kwakuwukuhlola ukumelana kwe-PEEK nezimo zenyanga ezimbi kakhulu. Uma iphumelela, i-PEEK ingase ikwazi ukufaka esikhundleni sezingxenye zensimbi ezimweni lapho izingxenye zensimbi ziphuka khona noma izinto zimbalwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izakhiwo ze-PEEK ezilula zingaba usizo ekuhloleni isikhala.
Ubuchwepheshe bokuphrinta be-3D bungasetshenziswa ukukhiqiza izingxenye ezahlukahlukene zemboni yezindiza.
Izinzuzo zokunyathelisa nge-3D embonini yezindiza
Izinzuzo zokunyathelisa nge-3D embonini yezindiza zifaka phakathi ukubukeka okuthuthukisiwe kwezingxenye uma kuqhathaniswa namasu okwakha endabuko. UJohannes Homa, i-CEO yomkhiqizi wephrinta ye-3D wase-Austria uLithoz, uthe "lobu buchwepheshe benza izingxenye zibe lula." Ngenxa yenkululeko yokuklama, imikhiqizo ephrintiwe nge-3D isebenza kahle kakhulu futhi idinga izinsiza ezimbalwa. Lokhu kunomthelela omuhle emthonjeni wemvelo wokukhiqiza izingxenye. I-Relativity Space ikhombisile ukuthi ukukhiqizwa okungeziwe kunganciphisa kakhulu inani lezingxenye ezidingekayo ukukhiqiza izindiza-mkhathi. Ku-rocket ye-Terran 1, izingxenye eziyi-100 zalondolozwa. Ngaphezu kwalokho, lobu buchwepheshe bunezinzuzo ezibalulekile ngesivinini sokukhiqiza, njengoba i-rocket iqedwa ngaphansi kwezinsuku ezingama-60. Ngokuphambene nalokho, ukukhiqiza i-rocket kusetshenziswa izindlela zendabuko kungathatha iminyaka eminingana.
Ngokuphathelene nokuphathwa kwezinsiza, ukuphrinta kwe-3D kungonga izinto futhi, kwezinye izimo, kuvumele ngisho nokusetshenziswa kabusha kwemfucuza. Okokugcina, ukukhiqizwa kwezengezo kungaba yimpahla ebalulekile yokunciphisa isisindo sokusuka kwamarokhethi. Umgomo uwukwandisa ukusetshenziswa kwezinto zasendaweni, njenge-regolith, nokunciphisa ukuthuthwa kwezinto ngaphakathi kwemikhumbi-mkhathi. Lokhu kwenza kube nokwenzeka ukuthwala iphrinta ye-3D kuphela, engadala konke endaweni ngemva kohambo.
I-Made in Space isivele ithumele enye yamaphrinta ayo e-3D esikhaleni ukuze ihlolwe.
Imikhawulo yokuphrinta kwe-3D esikhaleni
Nakuba ukuphrinta kwe-3D kunezinzuzo eziningi, ubuchwepheshe busebusha futhi bunemikhawulo. U-Advenit Makaya uthe, "Enye yezinkinga ezinkulu ngokukhiqizwa kwezengezo embonini yezindiza ukulawula inqubo nokuqinisekisa." Abakhiqizi bangangena elabhorethri futhi bahlole amandla engxenye ngayinye, ukuthembeka, kanye nesakhiwo sayo ngaphambi kokuqinisekisa, inqubo eyaziwa ngokuthi ukuhlolwa okungabhubhisi (NDT). Kodwa-ke, lokhu kungadla isikhathi futhi kubize kakhulu, ngakho-ke umgomo wokugcina ukunciphisa isidingo salezi zivivinyo. I-NASA isanda kusungula isikhungo sokubhekana nale nkinga, sigxile ekuqinisekisweni okusheshayo kwezingxenye zensimbi ezikhiqizwe ukukhiqizwa kwezengezo. Isikhungo sihlose ukusebenzisa amawele edijithali ukuthuthukisa amamodeli ekhompyutha emikhiqizo, okuzosiza onjiniyela ukuqonda kangcono ukusebenza kanye nemikhawulo yezingxenye, kufaka phakathi ukuthi bangamelana nengcindezi engakanani ngaphambi kokuphuka. Ngokwenza kanjalo, isikhungo sinethemba lokusiza ukukhuthaza ukusetshenziswa kokuphrinta kwe-3D embonini yezindiza, okwenza kube ngcono kakhulu ekuncintisaneni namasu okukhiqiza endabuko.
Lezi zingxenye ziye zahlolwa ngokuphelele ukuthembeka kanye namandla.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi, inqubo yokuqinisekisa ihlukile uma ukukhiqizwa kwenziwa esikhaleni. U-Advenit Makaya we-ESA uyachaza, "Kukhona indlela ehilela ukuhlaziya izingxenye ngesikhathi sokuphrinta." Le ndlela isiza ekunqumeni ukuthi yimiphi imikhiqizo ephrintiwe efanelekile nengafanele. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kukhona uhlelo lokuzilungisa lwamaphrinta e-3D ahloselwe isikhala futhi luvivinywa emishinini yensimbi. Lolu hlelo lungabona amaphutha angaba khona enkambisweni yokukhiqiza futhi lushintshe ngokuzenzakalelayo amapharamitha alo ukuze lulungise noma yikuphi ukushiyeka engxenyeni. Lezi zinhlelo ezimbili kulindeleke ukuthi zithuthukise ukuthembeka kwemikhiqizo ephrintiwe esikhaleni.
Ukuze kuqinisekiswe izixazululo zokunyathelisa ze-3D, i-NASA ne-ESA zimise amazinga. Lezi zindinganiso zifaka uchungechunge lwezivivinyo zokunquma ukuthembeka kwezingxenye. Zicabangela ubuchwepheshe bokuhlanganisa umbhede wempuphu futhi ziyabubuyekeza ukuze zisetshenziswe kwezinye izinqubo. Kodwa-ke, abadlali abaningi abaphambili embonini yezinto zokwakha, njenge-Arkema, i-BASF, i-Dupont, ne-Sabic, nabo banikeza lokhu kulandeleka.
Ukuhlala esikhaleni?
Ngokuthuthuka kobuchwepheshe bokunyathelisa be-3D, sibone amaphrojekthi amaningi aphumelelayo eMhlabeni asebenzisa lobu buchwepheshe ukwakha izindlu. Lokhu kusenza sizibuze ukuthi le nqubo ingasetshenziswa yini esikhathini esizayo esiseduze noma esikude ukwakha izakhiwo ezingahlalwa emkhathini. Nakuba ukuhlala emkhathini kungenzeki okwamanje, ukwakha izindlu, ikakhulukazi enyangeni, kungaba wusizo kubashayeli bezindiza ekwenzeni imisebenzi yasemkhathini. Umgomo we-European Space Agency (ESA) ukwakha ama-domes enyangeni kusetshenziswa i-lunar regolith, engasetshenziswa ukwakha izindonga noma izitini ukuvikela ochwepheshe bezindiza emisebeni. Ngokusho kuka-Advenit Makaya wase-ESA, i-lunar regolith yakhiwe cishe ngensimbi engu-60% kanye ne-oxygen engu-40% futhi iyinto ebalulekile yokusinda kososayensi bezindiza ngoba inganikeza umthombo ongapheli we-oxygen uma ikhishwa kulokhu.
I-NASA inikeze i-ICON isibonelelo esingu-$57.2 million ngokuthuthukisa uhlelo lokunyathelisa lwe-3D lokwakha izakhiwo ebusweni benyanga futhi isebenzisana nenkampani ukudala indawo yokuhlala ye-Mars Dune Alpha. Umgomo uwukuhlola izimo zokuphila eMars ngokuba nezisebenzi zokuzithandela ezihlala endaweni yokuhlala unyaka owodwa, zilingise izimo ePlanethini Elibomvu. Le mizamo imelela izinyathelo ezibalulekile zokwakha ngqo izakhiwo ezinyathelisiwe ze-3D enyangeni naseMars, okungagcina kuvule indlela yokuba abantu bangene emkhathini.
Esikhathini esizayo esikude, lezi zindlu zingenza ukuphila kuqhubeke isikhathi eside.
Isikhathi sokuthunyelwe: Juni-14-2023
