3 ms·

3D printing also takes a lot of time. I'm not sure but I would bet it takes less time to build a rocket with traditional means than through 3d printing. There

by cptaj 4y ago

3D printing also takes a lot of time. I'm not sure but I would bet it takes less time to build a rocket with traditional means than through 3d printing. There are other advantages (leverage with investors not the least of them, imo) to the 3D printing angle but simplicity of development and speed of production are not them.

kiesyy 4y ago
Believe they’re aiming for a 2 month lead time
api 4y ago
It takes a long time but a lot less human labor, so the cost can probably be brought way down. Don't know if it can be competitive without reusability though, or at least partial reusability of the engines.
- snek_case 4y ago
  The thing is, Relativity Space doesn't really disclose much about how the rocket is made. They say it's some percentage 3D printed by weight, but that doesn't really tell you if, for example, they use carbon fiber COPVs for the fuel tanks inside. We don't really know that 3D printing saves them much time. Rockets are large cylinders, which there are other efficient ways to manufacture. Other companies will 3D print parts of rocket engines. I'm sure Relativity Space does as well, but they probbaly do that separately from the main body of the rocket with some hand assembly after.
enragedcacti 4y ago
I'm far from an expert but it seems like at least some companies use cnc milling very extensively which I can't imagine is all that fast either. Many of the huge parts in this SmarterEveryDay video at ULA have tool markings e.g. at 8:40. I'm also skeptical of 3d printing being as big of a boon as they pitch but I also wouldn't be super surprised if it nets an improvement in speed for some parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fG_lnVhHw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fG_lnVhHw
- FredPret 4y ago
  It's probably easier to land a 3D printer on the Moon than all that other equipment. I wonder what 3D-printing in a vacuum in low gravity would be like.
sheepybloke 4y ago
Yes and no. Some of the piece you have to make need to be cast, which means having a forge make the molds, test the molds out, and then, if you find an issue, start the whole process over again. That process can take at times around 6+ months, and more if you find an issue or have to redesign. Similarly, because of the limits of machining, 3D printing allows you have to have much more complex parts and geometries, especially for the engines. I was at GE Aviation for a bit, and they showed us some nozzles they printed that would be impossible to make if not for 3D printing just because of the complex geometries.

by cptaj 4y ago

kiesyy 4y ago

Believe they’re aiming for a 2 month lead time

api 4y ago

It takes a long time but a lot less human labor, so the cost can probably be brought way down. Don't know if it can be competitive without reusability though, or at least partial reusability of the engines.

snek_case 4y ago
The thing is, Relativity Space doesn't really disclose much about how the rocket is made. They say it's some percentage 3D printed by weight, but that doesn't really tell you if, for example, they use carbon fiber COPVs for the fuel tanks inside. We don't really know that 3D printing saves them much time. Rockets are large cylinders, which there are other efficient ways to manufacture. Other companies will 3D print parts of rocket engines. I'm sure Relativity Space does as well, but they probbaly do that separately from the main body of the rocket with some hand assembly after.

enragedcacti 4y ago

I'm far from an expert but it seems like at least some companies use cnc milling very extensively which I can't imagine is all that fast either. Many of the huge parts in this SmarterEveryDay video at ULA have tool markings e.g. at 8:40. I'm also skeptical of 3d printing being as big of a boon as they pitch but I also wouldn't be super surprised if it nets an improvement in speed for some parts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fG_lnVhHw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0fG_lnVhHw

FredPret 4y ago
It's probably easier to land a 3D printer on the Moon than all that other equipment. I wonder what 3D-printing in a vacuum in low gravity would be like.

sheepybloke 4y ago

Yes and no. Some of the piece you have to make need to be cast, which means having a forge make the molds, test the molds out, and then, if you find an issue, start the whole process over again. That process can take at times around 6+ months, and more if you find an issue or have to redesign. Similarly, because of the limits of machining, 3D printing allows you have to have much more complex parts and geometries, especially for the engines. I was at GE Aviation for a bit, and they showed us some nozzles they printed that would be impossible to make if not for 3D printing just because of the complex geometries.