Open AccessTowards additively manufacturing excavating tools for future robotic space exploration
Author(s) -
Hofmann Douglas C.,
Bordeenithikasem Punnathat,
Tosi L. Phillipe,
Hendry Morgan,
Yahnker Christopher,
Sunday Cecily,
Pate Andre,
Firdosy Samad,
Iten Jeremy J.,
Nuechterlein Jacob,
Stolpe Moritz
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
engineering reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2577-8196
DOI - 10.1002/eng2.12219
Subject(s) - materials science , maraging steel , regolith , metallurgy , spacecraft , mechanical engineering , astrobiology , aerospace engineering , engineering , physics
Abstract Multiple metal alloys, that is, Ti‐6Al‐4 V, 316 L stainless steel, MS1 maraging steel, A2 tool steel, Inconel 625 with TiC and TiB 2 reinforcement, and AMZ4 bulk metallic glass, were additively manufactured through laser powder bed fusion and tested as potential excavating tools for future robotic spacecraft landing on icy planetary bodies. Mechanical specific energy as a function of blade hardness was measured for each excavating tool as it trenched through soft and hard salt, where the salt is a regolith simulant for extraterrestrial ice. A2 tool steel, MS1 maraging steel, and bulk metallic glass cutting tools were shown to perform well in the experiments. A method for using the cutting tool as a sensor was also demonstrated.