Institute of Transport and Automation Technology Research Publications
Ultrasonic levitation as containerless handling for In-Space Manufacturing

Ultrasonic levitation as containerless handling for In-Space Manufacturing

Categories Konferenz
Year 2024
Authors Böhm, T.; Düsing, J.; Lotz, C.; Bapat, S.; Jäschke, P.; Kaierle, S.; Malshe, A. P.; Overmeyer, L.
Published in Laser + Photonics for Advanced Manufacturing, SPIE Photonics Europe, Proc. of SPIE Vol. 13005, 130050C
Description

To develop a safe and sustainable infrastructure for future missions, In-Space Manufacturing must become state of the art. This paper will propose a novel handling mechanism for powder-based material suitable for the microgravitational environment. Ultrasonic levitation is a promising technology for gravity-independent material handling. The fundamental challenge lies in the trapping of powder-based materials. To assist the material deposition process and stabilize the material handling water is used as a carrier material. A multi-emitter single-axis ultrasonic levitator is employed to levitate PA 12 SLS-powder in a fixed state and initiate a laser melting process to bind the powder material. The spherical levitator uses 72 piezoelectric transducers by Murata, with a levitation radius of 37 mm, which can generate a levitation force of up to 0.15 mN. A 20 W 1064 nm fiber laser is employed to evaporate the water and bind 0.4 µg PA 12 particles together. The experiments will be performed under earth and atmospheric conditions. This paper investigates the evaporation time of water inside a levitation field depending on the laser power. The properties and parameters of distinguished materials will be evaluated to determine the boundary conditions of the acoustic levitator. The data will be compared to a simplified analytical model and used to initiate a melting process with the SLS material.

DOI 10.1117/12.3016651