US 11,945,154 B2
Printer and printing method for space and pressure suits using additive manufacturing
Pablo Gabriel de León, Cape Canaveral, FL (US)
Filed by Pablo Gabriel de León, Cape Canaveral, FL (US)
Filed on Nov. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/098,008.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/936,718, filed on Nov. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0146606 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); B64G 6/00 (2006.01); B29K 29/00 (2006.01); B29K 31/00 (2006.01); B29K 55/02 (2006.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29K 75/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/118 (2017.08) [B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B64G 6/00 (2013.01); B29K 2029/00 (2013.01); B29K 2031/04 (2013.01); B29K 2055/02 (2013.01); B29K 2067/046 (2013.01); B29K 2075/00 (2013.01); B29L 2031/768 (2013.01); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing a space suit component, the method comprising:
printing a first component of the space suit by extruding additive polymers using a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer including a robotic arm with an extruder head, the extruder head having a coupled heating element, and an adjustable printing bed maneuverable in multiple axes, wherein the printing the first component comprises:
maneuvering the adjustable printing bed in an x-axis, a y-axis and/or a z-axis;
providing a first layer of a porous fabric;
feeding, via a feeding mechanism, the additive polymers comprising a thermoplastic filament into the extruder head;
heating, via the heating element, the thermoplastic filament thereby creating a malleable material;
depositing by the printing extruder head of the three-dimensional printer, the malleable material forming a first layer of the additive polymers onto the first layer of the porous fabric;
adding a second layer of porous fabric onto the first layer of the additive polymers deposited onto the first layer of porous fabric;
depositing by the printing extruder head, a second layer of additive polymers, heated by the heating element of the extruder head, onto the second layer of the porous fabric; and
applying Polyvinyl alcohol to portions of the extruded additive polymers, the Polyvinyl alcohol providing structural support of the portions during printing of the space suit component; and
integrally forming with the first component, a non-rigid second component comprising a thermoplastic, wherein the first layer provides a gas retention layer of the first component, and wherein the first component is flat and flexible.