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    ESA > Space in Images > 2013 > 06 > 3D-printed toolbox for Columbus

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    3D-printed toolbox for Columbus

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    • Title 3D-printed toolbox for Columbus
    • Released 04/06/2013 3:35 pm
    • Copyright ESA/Thales Alenia Space
    • Description

      This purpose-designed 3D-printed toolbox is being launched to the ISS on ESA’s latest ATV resupply spacecraft. The strong, lightweight multitray toolbox was printed in ULTEM 9085 thermoplastic by Thales Alenia Space in Turin through an ESA contract. The toolbox is designed to store tools for maintaining Europe’s Columbus research module. The new toolbox includes little clips to hold the tools in place, just like toolboxes you can buy at a hardware store, instead of the previous Velcro inserts that may lose their stickiness over time. At the same time, the toolbox exterior still has Velcro covering, so astronauts can leave it in place while they work without it drifting away. If any part of the toolbox breaks then the ground has only to reprint and fly up the tray in question. Following this pilot project, future long-duration missions could carry their own 3D printers in space to print out failed parts immediately.

    • Id 292594

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