Space station's 3-D printer makes its first creation: A spare part

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Space station's 3-D printer makes its first creation: A spare part

By Marcia Dunn Associated Press
POSTED: 11/25/2014 02:07:36 PM PST

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The first 3-D printer in space has popped out its first creation.

The 3-D printer delivered to the International Space Station two months ago made a sample part for itself this week. It churned out a faceplate for the print head casing.

Space station commander Butch Wilmore removed the small plastic creation from the printer Tuesday for eventual return to Earth. About 20 objects will be printed in the next few weeks for analysis back home, NASA said. The space agency hopes to one day use 3-D printing to make parts for broken equipment in space.

Made in Space, the Silicon Valley company that supplied the space station's 3-D printer, called it "a transformative moment." The newly created, rectangular faceplate -- considered functional by the company -- includes the Made in Space name, as well as NASA's.

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Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27011274/space-stations-3-d-printer-makes-its-first

[Warpy]

1. Good for them!

Waiting for Mr. Buttcrack to turn up to service a dead appliance here on earth is bad enough. I can't imagine having to wait for him a few miles up above the planet.

[belzabubba333]

5. looks like crack was the butt of that joke

[wwoodrich]

2. These machines are not printers. They are laminators.

[Helen Borg]

3. Or perhaps...

All laminators are special kinds of printers?

[7962]

4. I wonder where this 3-D printing is headed?

Are we eventually going to see parts mfg go away? Machinists? Will these things be able to make ANYTHING? I've already seen a story locally about a woman getting a knee replacement with a 3-D printed part that was made to perfectly fit her existing joint, which made recovery much faster. Amazing stuff

[greiner3]

6. Lolcats has a photo you may enjoy, considering your icon;

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018695378

It's about halfway down.