New 3D printed pogo accumulator is Aerojet Rocketdyne’s largest 3D printed engine part to date. Working as a kind of shock absorber, the pogo accumulator serves to dampen vibrations caused by rockets propellants.
Breaking news from the AM aerospace industry as NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) project is on track to be the most 3D printing inclusive rocket to date.
Using selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing 3D printing technology, both parts of the pogo accumulator were 3D printed, ready to be included inside the RS-25 engine.
”As Aerojet Rocketdyne begins to build new RS-25 engines beyond its current inventory of 16 heritage shuttle engines, future RS-25 engines will feature dozens of additively-manufactured components. (…)
One of the primary goals of the RS-25 program is to lower the overall cost of the engine while maintaining its reliability and safety margins. Additive Manufacturing is essential to achieving that goal.”
Dan Adamski, Aerojet Rocketdyne‘s RS-25 program director
NASA has also been testing a 3D printed bi-metallic part for the SLS engine, mixing inconel with copper. Clearly 2018 will be a superb year for the aerospace 3D printing industry.
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