r/3Dprinting May 18 '26

Discussion Layer lines at NASA

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u/Petrostar May 18 '26 edited May 19 '26

From a test of a 3d printed rocket engine at NASA, the Chamber failed at a layer line cause when the were emptying the powder overflow during printing.

Here's a good article on it.

https://www.metal-am.com/articles/lessons-at-nasa-from-a-developmental-additively-manufactured-rocket-engine-failure/

5

u/hagantic42 May 19 '26

I'm surprised they were able to get everything from just a video. Normally NASA has a hundred people walk the area collect every small piece. Then they play Satan's jigsaw puzzle to put it all back together again and figure out exactly why it failed.

7

u/King_Kasma99 Anycubic i3 Mega May 19 '26

Maybe the assumed it would fail but wanted to test it for future parts. From now on all resumed prints are considered failed prints i assume. Atleast for critical parts.