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Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Monday, April 13, 2015 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium

Ted Swanson

"Additive Manufacturing for Spacecraft Applications; the Technology, the Hype, and What's Happening at Goddard "

ABSTRACT -- Additive Manufacturing (AM), sometimes called 3D Printing, is a rapidly developing technology. Several features of AM make it attractive for aerospace applications, including: easily customizable design, ability to create structures or devices that are difficult or impossible to fabricate otherwise, mass optimization, quick turn-around for prototypes, and perhaps novel mechanical/electrical/thermal properties. Spacecraft applications include optical benches, electronic components/repair, and complex structures, among others.

For the past few years several Goddard researchers have been pursuing AM technology for various applications. However, as a developing technology there are many issues to be resolved before it can be flown, and there are few standards or guidelines. For example, one of the greatest challenges within AM is in qualifying source material properties and process control. QA testing of the finished articles is also an issue. Nevertheless, rapid progress is being made and new materials, AM machines, and fabrication processes are constantly being introduced. Industry is leading this charge with hundreds of millions of dollars in R&D. This talk will provide a brief overview of emerging AM technology, perceived opportunities and issues for Goddard applications, and the recent efforts of several Goddard researchers.

SPEAKER -- Theodore Swanson has been with NASA Goddard since 1984. During this time he has held a variety of positions in technology researcher, flight mission support, and technology management. His research focused on two-phase thermo-physics in a microgravity environment. He was Principal Investigator of several experiments on the Space Shuttle and of one on a free-flyer spacecraft.

He is currently on detail supporting Goddard's Office of the Chief Technologist. He has responsibility for strategic integration of new technologies and coordination with a wide variety of external partners.

Mr. Swanson is a Goddard Senior Fellow, and recently served as the US representative to the Independent Scientific Evaluation Group for NATO's Science for Peace and Security Program. He has an MS in Mechanical Engineering, some 60+ technical publications, and 3 patents. He has received NASA's Exceptional Technology Achievement Medal and numerous other awards.


Engineering Colloquium home page: https://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov