<p>To answer your question, you have to consider how the melted filament sticks to the print bed and to other layers, and if gravity has any affect on how it sticks. The answer is that gravity does <em>not</em> have any real affect on the stick-to-itivity of the filament. Instead, the plastic bonds to the print bed surface, and then subsequent layers fuse with the previous layer. Nor does gravity have any affect on how the filament is fed or how the belts and gears move. Certain filament roll holders may not be able to be used if they do not clamp the roll down, and the printer also needs to be clamped down. But, perhaps surprisingly, there isn't really anything else that needs to be done differently to make a printer work in space.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-17T02:51:48.487Z
2016-01-17T02:59:43.613Z
2016-01-17T02:59:43.613Z
Tony Hansen
<p>The first big space-specific issue is actually air quality. You can't just open a window to air out the molten-ABS smell from the ISS! </p>

<p>FFF printers put out fumes and nanoparticles. In a space station, the same air gets recycled over and over, and the air purification systems have a specific set of contaminants that they are optimized for, as well as a design capacity for air turnover and chemical removal rates that won't be adjusted just because somebody's printing a space-ratchet today. Protecting cabin air quality is a huge design factor for any experiment that goes into space.</p>

<p>The Made in Space printing experiments on the ISS to date were performed in one of the vacuum experiment chambers, so any unfiltered fumes (or fire flare-ups) could be vented directly to space if required. In the long run, this isn't going to work -- other experiments may need the vacuum chamber, or "production" printers may be too large to fit. So the printer needs to have its own internal air purification system. </p>

<p>Another MAJOR design constraint is launch survival. Rocket payloads must be designed for extreme g-forces without 1) damage, or 2) significant internal shifting of mass which would affect the payload center of gravity.</p>

<p>Total payload weight is also quite important here: lifting mass to low Earth orbit is EXPENSIVE. </p>

<p>Surprisingly, the microgravity environment itself isn't that big of a deal. Molten plastic is highly viscous and pretty much stays where you put it long enough to solidify, as long as it's sticking to something. But two impacts do come to mind. </p>

<ul>
<li>First, an unsecured filament spool will try to unwind itself. Gravity won't provide the contact friction we usually rely on to keep spools from bird's-nesting. (Think about it: a tightly-wound spool is literally a giant coil-spring.) </li>
<li>Second, heat flows are different in microgravity -- you can't rely on passive convection to cool the print or the motors. Accommodations must be made for sufficient forced airflow and heat-sinking on anything that requires cooling. And that includes the enclosure itself, since, as mentioned above, the print chamber must be sealed up tight for air quality control. </li>
</ul>

<p>Finally, reliability is critical. Amazon doesn't deliver to the ISS (yet). Even a single stripped screw may take the printer out of commission for months until a replacement part can be fit into an upcoming supply launch. Having the printer catch on fire because something shorted would be catastrophic.</p>

<p>So, really, it's all about making a printer robust enough to make it up there, operate safely, and never break. Printing upside-down is trivial in comparison. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-03-02T12:10:15.063Z
Great answer! I've just asked [What kinds of activities, experiment and, procedures done on the ISS must be done in chambers vented to space?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/34566/12102) and also [How are particulates monitored on the ISS? Are they distinguished at all by size and type?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/34567/12102)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T21:55:46.077Z
You last statement summarizes it very well. Great post! I think this should be marked as the correct answer for now.
Tormod Haugene
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-20T20:50:13.350Z
2016-01-20T20:50:13.350Z
Ryan Carlyle
<p>Most likely, the 3D-printers used on ISS does not incorporate some fundamental difference that allow them to print in zero gravity.</p>

<p>Some people over at <a href="http://3dprint.com/62797/3d-printing-upside-down/" rel="noreferrer">3Dprint.com</a> raised a very similar question, and figured that when turning their 3D-printer upside down and on it's side:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>there’s not really much difference at all. It’s quite interesting to see how the orientation has little effect on the quality.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>One of the early 3D-printer models - the <a href="http://bukito3d.com/" rel="noreferrer">Bukito</a> printer - demonstrated that their printer was so portable it even could print on the move, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePU4EEM3JEI" rel="noreferrer">upside down</a>.</p>

<p>In other words, some consumer 3D printers already print upside down, and so they would probably print in zero gravity as well!</p>

<p><em>(That's the short story anyway. Have a look at Ryan's post, who gives a great description of the more intricate parts of space printing!)</em> </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T23:43:00.920Z
Also check out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jUPG5fatJQc
Marviel
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T20:42:11.373Z
2016-01-20T21:54:24.843Z
2016-01-20T21:54:24.843Z
Tormod Haugene
<p><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1115.html">This article</a> states that 3D printing has been accomplished in outer space, on the International Space Station.</p>

<p>I'm curious as to how this works differently from 3D printing on Earth. Are there any extra measures that needed to be taken to ensure that the filament would be correctly extruded onto the print bed, or during other steps?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-16T23:56:23.470Z
Also, if anyone can come up with better tags, that would be helpful.
HDE 226868
<applications>
How is 3D printing done in space?
HDE 226868
# How is 3D printing done in space?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-16)

[This article](http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/1115.html) states that 3D printing has been accomplished in outer space, on the International Space Station.

I'm curious as to how this works differently from 3D printing on Earth. Are there any extra measures that needed to be taken to ensure that the filament would be correctly extruded onto the print bed, or during other steps?

**Tags:** applications
> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Also, if anyone can come up with better tags, that would be helpful.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-01-16. Score: 18 | Accepted answer

Most likely, the 3D-printers used on ISS does not incorporate some fundamental difference that allow them to print in zero gravity.

Some people over at [3Dprint.com](http://3dprint.com/62797/3d-printing-upside-down/) raised a very similar question, and figured that when turning their 3D-printer upside down and on it's side:

> there’s not really much difference at all. It’s quite interesting to see how the orientation has little effect on the quality.

One of the early 3D-printer models - the [Bukito](http://bukito3d.com/) printer - demonstrated that their printer was so portable it even could print on the move, and [upside down](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePU4EEM3JEI).

In other words, some consumer 3D printers already print upside down, and so they would probably print in zero gravity as well!

*(That's the short story anyway. Have a look at Ryan's post, who gives a great description of the more intricate parts of space printing!)*

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Also check out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jUPG5fatJQc  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-17. Score: 8

To answer your question, you have to consider how the melted filament sticks to the print bed and to other layers, and if gravity has any affect on how it sticks. The answer is that gravity does *not* have any real affect on the stick-to-itivity of the filament. Instead, the plastic bonds to the print bed surface, and then subsequent layers fuse with the previous layer. Nor does gravity have any affect on how the filament is fed or how the belts and gears move. Certain filament roll holders may not be able to be used if they do not clamp the roll down, and the printer also needs to be clamped down. But, perhaps surprisingly, there isn't really anything else that needs to be done differently to make a printer work in space.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-20. Score: 7

The first big space-specific issue is actually air quality. You can't just open a window to air out the molten-ABS smell from the ISS!

FFF printers put out fumes and nanoparticles. In a space station, the same air gets recycled over and over, and the air purification systems have a specific set of contaminants that they are optimized for, as well as a design capacity for air turnover and chemical removal rates that won't be adjusted just because somebody's printing a space-ratchet today. Protecting cabin air quality is a huge design factor for any experiment that goes into space.

The Made in Space printing experiments on the ISS to date were performed in one of the vacuum experiment chambers, so any unfiltered fumes (or fire flare-ups) could be vented directly to space if required. In the long run, this isn't going to work -- other experiments may need the vacuum chamber, or "production" printers may be too large to fit. So the printer needs to have its own internal air purification system.

Another MAJOR design constraint is launch survival. Rocket payloads must be designed for extreme g-forces without 1) damage, or 2) significant internal shifting of mass which would affect the payload center of gravity.

Total payload weight is also quite important here: lifting mass to low Earth orbit is EXPENSIVE.

Surprisingly, the microgravity environment itself isn't that big of a deal. Molten plastic is highly viscous and pretty much stays where you put it long enough to solidify, as long as it's sticking to something. But two impacts do come to mind.

* First, an unsecured filament spool will try to unwind itself. Gravity won't provide the contact friction we usually rely on to keep spools from bird's-nesting. (Think about it: a tightly-wound spool is literally a giant coil-spring.)
* Second, heat flows are different in microgravity -- you can't rely on passive convection to cool the print or the motors. Accommodations must be made for sufficient forced airflow and heat-sinking on anything that requires cooling. And that includes the enclosure itself, since, as mentioned above, the print chamber must be sealed up tight for air quality control.

Finally, reliability is critical. Amazon doesn't deliver to the ISS (yet). Even a single stripped screw may take the printer out of commission for months until a replacement part can be fit into an upcoming supply launch. Having the printer catch on fire because something shorted would be catastrophic.

So, really, it's all about making a printer robust enough to make it up there, operate safely, and never break. Printing upside-down is trivial in comparison.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: You last statement summarizes it very well. Great post! I think this should be marked as the correct answer for now.  
> **username_3**: Great answer! I've just asked [What kinds of activities, experiment and, procedures done on the ISS must be done in chambers vented to space?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/34566/12102) and also [How are particulates monitored on the ISS? Are they distinguished at all by size and type?](https://space.stackexchange.com/q/34567/12102)  

---

