Timeline for What should machining (turning, milling, grinding) in space look like
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
10 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| yesterday | comment | added | jpa | In many cases it is possible to trade material removal rate against cutting forces, by using smaller cutting tools and higher RPM. This reduces the forces experienced by the machine frame. Advanced design methods would be able to optimize the frame structure to reduce weight while retaining good rigidity and damping properties. | |
| yesterday | vote | accept | Raymond Coulson | ||
| 2 days ago | comment | added | BradV | @uwe presently common directed stream liquid cooling might be made practical by using an immersive cover gas directed flow and collection system to move the cover gas and the entrained liquid coolant to gas-liquid separator to reclaim/reuse the coolant. Of course, the active machining volume would be enclosed sufficiently to contain spray and vaporization. | |
| 2 days ago | comment | added | Andrew Morton | Would there be a need for balance shafts to reduce the torque exerted on the space vehicle when starting/stopping the machine? | |
| 2 days ago | comment | added | Woody | @Uwe ... good point. In microgravity, liquid cooling would likely be limited to cooling passages in the tool bits, unless the process is completely submerged. | |
| 2 days ago | comment | added | Uwe | To cool a machine tool with a liquid in zero gravity and in space vacuum would be very difficult. How to pump the fluid in a cooling loop? | |
| 2 days ago | comment | added | Woody | Cold welding is potentially a problem with unlubricated high precision surfaces under load. Machines designed and operated to avoid this combination of risks should function normally. Molybdenum disulfide and Tungsten disulfide are dry lubricants suitable for use in a vacuum. | |
| 2 days ago | history | edited | Woody | CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Additional information
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| 2 days ago | comment | added | fyrepenguin | Regarding hard vacuum - what about cold welding? At what point does that become a negative rather than a positive (no oxidation, etc)? | |
| 2 days ago | history | answered | Woody | CC BY-SA 4.0 |