In early 2019, Vision Miner printed 3D printed filters used in testing NASA’s latest EVA space suits. Made of Carbon-Fiber PEEK, these filters absorb different forms of airborne particles (e.g. carbon, water vapor). We want to share an inside-look into how our engineers completed this amazing 3D printing job to show you the energy and attention to detail that we give each of our clients!
For this particular project, Vision Miner was in competition with other 3D printing companies to create a working CF-PEEK ‘monolith’ with a wall thickness of 0.25mm - quite the engineering challenge in FDM. In the end, our print service rose above the competition due to our unique printing methodologies.
At Vision Miner, our engineers utilize iterative development when creating precise parts for our clients. One engineer described this process as “specific and unique to every client part” as each material and design feature changes what is required to achieve perfection.
To get these air filters right, our printing engineers used microscopes to inspect each part while it was printing on our machines. This live, small-scale view gave us a detailed understanding of the layer adhesion and quality of extrusion occurring. Following this, engineers isolated and changed every slicer setting - from layer width to outline overlaps - to inch ever closer to meeting our clients’ needs. An iterative process is essential in 3D printing due to the number of variables that must be isolated and fixed after each step. And with each iteration, Vision Miner engineers sent new documentation to our clients to update them on what to change in the design to make the part easier to print.
As a result, our clients received 3D printed parts fit for testing in their application. The knowledge and attention to detail at Vision Miner is what sets us apart from our competitors.
If you or your company wish to learn more about Vision Miner’s 3D Print Service, please call or email us and we’ll be happy to help you find a solution!
The published paper can be found at the Texas Tech University website: Monolithic Trace-Contaminant Sorbents Fabricated from 3D-printed Polymer Precursors
Or, you can directly download the PDF
