DEVICE TO FABRICATE 3D PARTS AND STRUCTURES IN SPACE Russian patent published in 2012 - IPC B64G1/66 B64G4/00 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to space engineering, particularly, to 3D printing by principle of layer-by-layer building-up of solid geometrical figure by electron beam. Proposed device may be used aboard the International space station (ISS). First, 3d objects are formed in vacuum chamber (container) aboard ISS. Then, said chamber is filled with air and dissembled. First platform 17 is secured on ISS outer surface to connected by frames 19 with second platform 16 supporting moving platform 5 with micro motors 3. Wire (powder) 4 feed system, electron beam generator 2 and video control device 12 are mounted on back side of top cover of container 11. All said components are connected with computer 6 to allow astronaut to platform control drives 3 and configuring the entire 3D object. Moving platform 5 allows producing both separate elements of ISS structure, e.g. bars 14, 15 and welding them together. Electron beam is focused on metal source (wire or powder) fed continuously to said beam to melt it above revolving surface and lay layer-by-layer in compliance with 3D object design. Light filters fitted in lens of video control device 12 allows controlling aforesaid process. Besides, data of fabrication process is entered into computer system to be compared with appropriate design, recorded and entered into data base.

EFFECT: expanded operating performances.

3 cl, 2 dwg