Lockheed Martin has just taken 3D printing to a new level by printing a huge titanium dome for satellite fuel tanks. This is the largest part of the surface that the company has printed so far in 3D, and measures 46 inches in diameter – almost four feet. The dome is also much larger than the next most impressive printed 3D structure of the company. Previously, the largest part was the size of only the toaster and served as an electronics housing for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite program.

This month, the new Lockheed Martin structure has passed the last rounds of quality testing, ending a multi-year development program that aims to build large, high-pressure tanks capable of carrying fuel on board satellites. Made of titanium, the structure consists of three main parts, which should be emphasized, are not actually printed in 3D. There are two domes, which are the caps of the structure, as well as a titanium cylinder of variable length that serves as a body. Both domes were printed in 3D, while the cylinder was constructed using traditional production methods.

"Our largest 3D printed parts so far show that we are dedicated to the future in which we produce satellites twice as fast and half as cheap," said Rick Ambrose, vice president of Lockheed Martin Space. "And we are moving forward to get even better results." For example, we have extinguished 87 percent of the dome construction schedule, reducing the total delivery time from two years to three months. "

3D printing for a fuel tank is not simply intended for the show. This process is not only faster than traditional methods, but also helps reduce the amount of waste in the construction process. Lockheed Martin notes that 3D printing techniques can waste over 80 percent of materials. But 3D printing allegedly uses all the titanium used in the work, which provides a much more efficient process.

"We ourselves financed the project and qualifications as an investment in helping our clients move faster and reduce costs," explained Ambrose. "These tanks are part of a total transformation in the way we design and deliver space technology, and we're making great progress in automating, designing virtual reality and commonality across our entire satellite product line, and our customers expect more speed and value without giving up on orbit, and we're responding on the call. "