Coventry-based MTC will manage the new ESA Additive Manufacturing Benchmarking Centre (AMBC), which will provide a simple way for ESA projects and hi-tech companies to investigate the potential of additive manufacturing for their work.
The move will see the ESA call on the expertise of the MTC, allowing prototype parts to be produced and then assessed in terms of their suitability for specific applications.
Explains Torben Henriksen, head of ESA’s Mechanical Department: “The ESA’s directorate of technology, engineering and quality has called for the creation of a detailed roadmap for the harnessing of 3D printing to the space sector.
“We’ve been guided to set up this centre, with customers and industrial partners questioning us about the best way to try out 3D printing for the first time and test out the maturity of the results.”
Adds Tommaso Ghidini, head of the ESA’s Materials and Processes Section: “Having identified this requirement, we have outsourced its operation to the MTC.
“We don’t want to compete with industry; instead the idea is that ESA projects and interested companies can investigate this new engineering world to the point where they will take a decision to proceed further.”
Dr Dave Brackett, technology manager for additive manufacturing at the MTC, believes ESA’s exploration of the use of additive manufacturing will be beneficial for the technology.
He says: “This is a brilliant opportunity to further the advancement of the technology in one of the most testing and dynamic application areas.
“As the UK National Centre for Additive Manufacturing, we are in a unique position to work with ESA as their AMBC and provide the space sector with access to state-of-the-art capability and understanding to support industrial exploitation.”
Europe’s Vega small launcher will be the first project to make early use of the Centre.
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