Firm supporting Sutherland Space Hub to make rocket parts using 3D printer
The spaceflight firm expected to be the major user of Space Hub Sutherland is to use a 3D printer to speed up its production of rocket components.
Orbex, which has a rocket design and manufacuring facility in Forres and testing facilities in Denmark, is developing a 19-metre long rocket called Prime.
The rockets will be used to launch commercial satellites into polar orbits round Earth from the Sutherland space port, which has planning consent but is yet to be built at A’Mhoine peninsula, near Tongue.
Orbex announced this week it had commissioned Additive Manufacturing Customised Machines (AMCM) to build an industrial 3D printer, which will be the largest in Europe and will weigh more than 12 metric tonnes.
A multi-million deal was signed with AMCM following a series of successful trials printing various large-scale rocket components over a number of months.
Orbex said the 3D printer would allow it to print more than 35 large-scale rocket engine and main stage turbopump systems annually.
The printing system makes rocket parts using a custom blend of metals including titanium and aluminium to create a lightweight system designed to withstand the temperature and pressure extremes of spaceflight.
Rocket engines will be printed as a single piece, eliminating the weaknesses which can arise from joining and welding.
Prime is fuelled by bio-propane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel which reduces CO2 emissions by 90 per cent compared to kerosene-based fuels.
The Prime rocket is designed to be re-usable, incorporating a novel recovery and reusability system. It has also been designed to leave zero debris in orbit around the Earth.
Orbex chief executive Chris Larmour said: “Although our rocket engines and other critical systems are already quite mature after years of testing, a large scale, in-house 3D printing system will give us far greater speed and agility as we ramp up production.”
AMCM managing director Marin Bullemer said: “If they are to lead the European market, Orbex need the production reliability and speed that a large-scale 3D printing system will give them.
“And although this is a major purchase, it will allow for significant cost control for Orbex in years to come.”
Orbex is now funded by two UK venture capita funds, BGF and Octopus Ventures.
