Date of Award

2019-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor(s)

Ahsan . Choudhuri

Second Advisor

Joel . Quintana

Abstract

As additive manufacturing is becoming an established technology in space, new emerging strategies improve the efficiency of the printing processes. Orbital Factory 2 (OF-2) is a small satellite-or CubeSat-developed at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) which launched to space on November 2019. In January 2020, it will be released in low earth orbit (LEO). OF-2 is a 1U (10x10x10cm) CubeSat that carries a one-axis printer experiment as its primary payload. This printer was developed and tested in-house. The experiment focuses on printing electrically conductive ink on a printing circuit board that verifies the conductivity on the trace once cured. This could potentially allow for the repairs of solar cells while in orbit. The printer assembly utilizes materials made from conventional additive manufacturing processes which are also space- grade to comply with space regulations, and is housed inside the chassis with the other electronic modules. Several feedbacks implemented in the design allow to track the progress of the printing process during its different stages. This paper discusses the design and development of the printer as well as the challenges and changes encountered throughout the process.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

67 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Perla Rocio Perez

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