Ultrasonic levitation as containerless handling for in-space manufacturing

Böhm Torben; Jan F. Düsing; Lotz Christoph; Salil Bapat; Peter Jäschke; Stefan Kaierle; Ajay P. Malshe; Ludger Overmeyer

doi:10.1117/12.3016651

20 June 2024 Ultrasonic levitation as containerless handling for in-space manufacturing

Böhm Torben, Jan F. Düsing, Lotz Christoph, Salil Bapat, Peter Jäschke, Stefan Kaierle, Ajay P. Malshe, Ludger Overmeyer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 13005, Laser + Photonics for Advanced Manufacturing; 130050C (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3016651
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2024, Strasbourg, France

Abstract

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.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Böhm Torben, Jan F. Düsing, Lotz Christoph, Salil Bapat, Peter Jäschke, Stefan Kaierle, Ajay P. Malshe, and Ludger Overmeyer "Ultrasonic levitation as containerless handling for in-space manufacturing", Proc. SPIE 13005, Laser + Photonics for Advanced Manufacturing, 130050C (20 June 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3016651

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