Additive processes applied in RESHETNEV projects
RESHETNEV company experts introduce various types of additive manufacturing in satellites components production.
One of the key objectives of the company is realization of MARATHON IoT project. Around 20 components including payload antennas and feeds were produced using powder metal selective laser sintering (SLS) machine for the first demonstrator satellite of the constellation.
In the second MARATHON test satellite, this number reached 30. They include lightened antenna brackets manufactured by topological optimization technique. Magnetorquer housing was also redesigned. Originally, it was an assembly of three parts, but now it is a one-piece primary structure made of powder metal.
Additive manufacturing is applied in other RESHETNEV projects as well, like in EXPRESS-RV satellite development and manufacturing. RESHETNEV specialists have reconsidered the design of several brackets for the satellite, which resulted in overall mass reduction by 7 kg. Manufacturing of the first parts batch will soon begin.
Recently, REHSTNEV have obtained professional 3D-scanning measurement equipment, which is now used for verification of SLS-printed parts’ outer surfaces accuracy.
In the future, it is planned to adopt more additive methods in satellite building, such as 3D printing with high-temperature polymers suitable for space applications, use of mesh structures that further reduce product mass, and use of special software that minimizes deformation of the workpieces during powder sintering.
