![](\"http:\/\/www.esa.int\/var\/esa\/storage\/images\/esa_multimedia\/images\/2015\/01\/instrument_housing_produced_with_3d_printed_mould\/15192166-1-eng-GB\/Instrument_housing_produced_with_3D_printed_mould_small.jpg\")
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\n3D printing offers engineers various ways to construct hardware that simply could not be built in any other manner \u2013 such as this single-piece casing to house an optical instrument for Earth observations.\n<\/p>\n
\nIn this case, the desired shape was initially 3D printed in wax. The wax model was then dipped into a ceramic slurry to create a hard shell.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe wax was then melted away and molten aluminium poured in the hollow ceramic mould to produce the final part.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis prototype casing demonstrates another potential advantage of using 3D printing to create very complex space parts in a single piece.\n<\/p>\n
\nExtremely complicated shapes can be manufactured without the need for joins or welds, using less raw material and energy than traditional manufacturing, and with a reduced number of steps.\n<\/p>\n
\nESA\u2019s Product Assurance & Safety Department is looking at how 3D printing can be applied to space missions, including the development of common industrial standards for manufacturing and testing of products<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \t\t\t\t\t \n3D printing offers engineers various ways to construct hardware that simply could not be built in any other manner \u2013 such as this single-piece casing to house an optical instrument for Earth observations.\n<\/p>\n \nIn this case, the desired shape was initially 3D printed in wax. The wax model was then dipped into a ceramic slurry to create a hard shell.\n<\/p>\n \nThe wax was then melted away and molten aluminium poured in the hollow ceramic mould to produce the final part.\n<\/p>\n \nThis prototype casing demonstrates another potential advantage of using 3D printing to create very complex space parts in a single piece.\n<\/p>\n \nExtremely complicated shapes can be manufactured without the need for joins or welds, using less raw material and energy than traditional manufacturing, and with a reduced number of steps.\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n