3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / Aerospace / Interview with Adam Jakus About Printing Extraterrestrial Terrain
qidi

Interview with Adam Jakus About Printing Extraterrestrial Terrain

April 19, 2017

Yesterday, we posted about Northwestern University‘s work with various extraterrestrial regolith soil simulants. We decided to get in touch with the team behind the project for a follow-up on the state of this research and clarifications about certain elements of the methodology.

Our interviewee, Adam Jakus, has a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering and is an expert on advanced material functional inks, ceramics, polymers and composites. We were able to contact Adam, as he is one of the lead researchers on the project, and he was kind enough to answer our questions.

Related Story
Scientists Develop Means for 3D Printing Extraterrestrial Materials

1) What types of printers are you using for processing the lunar soil and martian soil simulants? and how does the process differ from standard 3D painting?

[For] this work we used an EnvisionTEC 3D-BioPlotter to 3D-print (simple extrusion) the Lunar and Martian inks. However, the Lunar and Martian inks we developed could be 3D-printed on any extrusion-based 3D-printer. Our laboratory focuses on developing new materials for 3D-printing, and as such, there is nothing particularly special or unique about the 3D-printer (hardware) used.

It’s all about the materials design. Our laboratory invented the “3D-painting” process and approach, and thus, there technically is no standard 3D-painting. We have demonstrated the ability to use this process to create a very extensive variety of 3D-printable inks including metals and alloys, graphene (3D-Graphene) and carbon nanotubes, ceramics, biomaterials (Hyperelastic “Bone”), etc. (these new materials were previously reported on the in the media extensively). Thus, on one extrusion-based 3D-printer, many types of materials can be very quickly 3D-printed.

EnvisionTec 3D Bioplotter Mars Lunar Simulant soil

2) Are the printers using their stock parts as developed by a manufacturer on request or has your team modified them personally. If yes, then how so?

There is nothing special about the 3D-printer itself used in this work, and no modifications were made. It is a commercially available 3D-Bioplotter, but the inks could be used with any extrusion-based 3D-printer. The Lunar and Martian inks are an extension of the 3D-paintable materials we have previously developed and described.

3) I read that the simulants were made with a combination of commercially available materials. How did your team develop them (methodology, equipment) and in what ways do these materials differ from actual martian and lunar soil?

The Martian and Lunar Regolith simulant powders were commercially available, as are all the other components of the inks. We created the Lunar and Martian inks using our 3D-paint approach.

The simulants are the same the same simulant powders used by NASA and space researchers, and were developed specifically for extraterrestrial research. They are quite close in both composition and particle size/shape to those found on Mars and the Moon. The Martian regolith is rough, but rounded, due to weathering (Mars has an atmosphere and wind). The Lunar regolith is sharp and jagged (no weathering, and was produced by meteor and asteroid impacts). The simulants simulate these powders quite well.

4) What other hurdles are necessary before the technology is space-flight ready?

It is primarily dependent on the 3D-printing hardware, and for manufacturers to create additional space-flight ready extrusion based 3D printers (similar to the one already on the international Space Station).

A special thanks to Adam Jakus for answering all our questions. The research manuscript is available here.

Adam Jakus, PhD
Hartwell Postdoctoral Fellow Northwestern University | Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology | B.S. and M.S. Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests: Engineering and 3D-printing new metal, ceramic, polymer, composite, and advanced material functional inks. Developing new multi-material printing techniques. Design and implementation of 3D-printing enabled materials and devices for medical, structural, and energy applications.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Fraunhofer, MacLean-Fogg, and Toyota Develop Large-Scale 3D Printing System for Automotive Die Casting Molds

The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT has partnered with powder manufacturer MacLean-Fogg and Toyota to develop a 3D printing solution for manufacturing... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Fraunhofer, MacLean-Fogg, and Toyota Develop Large-Scale 3D Printing System for Automotive Die Casting Molds

ASTM International Approves New Standard to Streamline AM Processes

ASTM International's additive manufacturing technologies committee (F42) has approved a new standard designed to help businesses navigate the procurement and delivery of 3D... read more »

News
ASTM International Approves New Standard to Streamline AM Processes

Trek Launches 3D Printed AirLoom Saddle Line

Trek has introduced its first 3D-printed saddle series, the Aeolus AirLoom, featuring what the company calls AirLoom lattice technology. The new design updates... read more »

News
Trek Launches 3D Printed AirLoom Saddle Line

QuesTek Partners with Niobium Producer to Develop High-Temperature 3D Printing Alloy

QuesTek Innovations has partnered with a global niobium producer to develop a high-temperature alloy designed for additive manufacturing. The project targets aerospace and... read more »

3D Printing Metal
QuesTek Partners with Niobium Producer to Develop High-Temperature 3D Printing Alloy

Autodesk Research and Additive Tectonics Develop 3D Printed Floor System with Alternative Materials

Autodesk Research has partnered with Additive Tectonics to develop a new approach to concrete floor construction using 3D printing technology. The collaboration combines... read more »

Construction

NREL Acquires Large-Scale Metal 3D Printer to Advance Marine Energy Research

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has installed a new laser-powered metal 3D printer at its Flatirons Campus to support marine energy device... read more »

3D Printing Metal
NREL Acquires Large-Scale Metal 3D Printer to Advance Marine Energy Research

Apple Adopts 3D Printing for Titanium USB-C Ports in New iPhone Air

Apple’s latest smartphone release marks a quiet but notable step in consumer electronics manufacturing: the company has confirmed that its new iPhone Air... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Apple Iphone 17 air

GKN Aerospace Expands Connecticut Facility for 3D Printed Engine Components

GKN Aerospace announced the expansion of its Newington, Connecticut facility to include a new production line for additively manufactured Fan Case Mount Ring... read more »

Aerospace
GKN Aerospace Expands Connecticut Facility for 3D Printed Engine Components

UltiMaker Launches Secure 3D Printing Line for Defense Applications

UltiMaker has introduced its Secure Line of 3D printing products specifically designed for defense and high-security environments. The initial lineup includes the UltiMaker... read more »

News
UltiMaker Launches Secure 3D Printing Line for Defense Applications

Digital Manufacturing Centre Delivers 90kg 3D Printed Military Vehicle Component

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) has completed production of its largest additive manufacturing metal component to date - a 90kg suspension and differential... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Digital Manufacturing Centre Delivers 90kg 3D Printed Military Vehicle Component

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing