Manufacturing Tank for CubeSat Carrier with WAAM technology
13 Jun, 2023
Caracol has introduced Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing to explore how to manufacture advanced applications such as space vehicles, leveraging the benefits of AM and robotics. This project enabled the production of propulsion tanks for CubeSat carrier space vehicles,
Caracol had the possibility of working with D-Orbit and the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano, thanks to the financed call 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗮 (𝗣𝗢𝗥 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗥 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟰-𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬) by Regione Lombardia, Caracol was able 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗔𝗔𝗠.
As the final component is meant to be mounted on a carrier satellite to transport and release CubeSats into orbit, D-Orbit's input was essential to help pinpoint the functional characteristics the component needed, while Politecnico di Milano was fundamental for material characterization, optimizing process parameters, and qualifying the final product.
From this first project and collaboration, it was possible to test first-hand the real advantages and potential, both in terms of product and process efficiencies, such as:
- 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 of complex parts with be-spoke geometries
- 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 with a positive environmental impact due to propellant consumption and waste reduction
- 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, eliminating the need to assemble several parts
- 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of 𝗿𝗮𝘄 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 and 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱
- 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 and 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, if compared to traditional manufacturing
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Caracol offers extreme Additive Manufacturing solutions with no scale limits. The company has developed its own LFAM system: with a patented extrusion head and proprietary algorithms. This system saves costs, reduces lead time, minimizes waste, and can reutilize waste or recycled materials.
