Forging the Future: Unveiling the Cutting-Edge Tools Shaping Space Exploration

In May 2023, a groundbreaking achievement was realized as 20 individuals simultaneously orbited Earth, setting a new record for the highest number of people in space concurrently. This milestone comes amidst a flurry of space missions, notably including Virgin Galactic’s inaugural Galactic 01, the first commercial suborbital spaceflight mission for the company. Simultaneously, SpaceX anticipates its inaugural commercial spacewalk, showcasing humanity’s increasing foray into the great expanse. Despite these strides, there remains a lesser-known aspect – the intricate tools shaping space exploration, a topic illuminated by William Durow, Global Engineering Project Manager at Sandvik Coromant.

Recent years have witnessed remarkable progress in space exploration, with standout missions such as the European Space Agency’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) launching in April 2023, destined for the Jovian System by 2030. SpaceX, with around 100 launches planned for the year, and NASA’s triumphant OSIRIS-Rex return in September 2023, contribute to a tapestry of projects unraveling the mysteries of our galaxy.

The success of space missions hinges on multifaceted considerations, from meticulous planning, simulations, and adept mission management to effective contingency preparations. Beyond these, the materials employed in space applications must endure extreme conditions such as vacuum, radiation, thermal cycling, and micrometeoroid impacts.

Material selection for space-bound constructions demands a thorough examination to ensure safety, performance, and functionality in extreme conditions. High-pressure and stress during launch and in-flight, along with the need for heat-resistant materials like those used in rocket nozzles to withstand re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, exemplify the structural challenges. Weight, a critical factor for elements like rocket propellant tanks, impacts payload capacity, prompting a careful choice of materials.

Key materials for space applications include heat-resistant superalloys (HRSAs), lauded for their ability to withstand harsh conditions. These alloys endure extreme temperatures, mechanical stresses, and corrosive environments, albeit presenting machining challenges due to high stresses during the process. Titanium, another crucial material, with half the density of steel, aids in reducing spacecraft weight, enhancing fuel efficiency, and offering corrosion resistance. However, machining titanium presents challenges requiring specialized tools due to its strength and low thermal conductivity.

In navigating these challenges, space engineers must meticulously select cutting tool materials. Carbide stands as a predominant choice, with additional applications of ceramic, cubic boron nitride (CBN), and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) in roughing and finishing of HRSAs and titanium alloys. Tool coatings and geometry are paramount considerations, favoring thin, tough coatings like Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) to avoid heat generation during machining.

Machining HRSAs demands specialized techniques, with lower cutting speeds to prevent excessive heat build-up and notch wear. Adjusting feed rates and depths of cut plays a crucial role in maintaining efficient machining. Given the substantial heat generated during machining, a robust cooling strategy employing high-pressure coolant is often implemented to break chips and dissipate excess heat. Tool wear monitoring becomes a priority to predict and mitigate potential failures that could damage expensive components.

Sandvik Coromant, a prominent player in the field, recommends high feed side milling as an efficient method for machining space components. This technique, involving a small radial engagement with the workpiece, allows increased cutting speeds and feed rates while minimizing heat and radial forces. Supporting this method, Sandvik Coromant has developed the CoroMill® Plura HFS high feed side milling range, featuring end mills optimized for titanium alloys and nickel alloys.

Amid the criticality of titanium and HRSAs in the space race, ongoing innovation introduces new materials, often shrouded in secrecy. These blends may include titanium alloys, ablative materials, carbon-carbon composites, or entirely novel compositions, with the secrets shared between spacecraft engineers and their machine tools suppliers.

For Sandvik Coromant, a global leader, expertise in space exploration extends worldwide, with dedicated research and development teams advising on optimal tools and techniques. Collaborating with customers, the team explores machining solutions, involving testing in secure sites, consulting on tool selection, and providing advice on machining methodologies.

The stakes in developing components for outer space are exceptionally high, as the slightest compromise in quality can derail a mission. Meticulous attention is imperative throughout the manufacturing process, emphasizing material selection and machining procedures. Achieving success among the stars requires a careful balance of robust materials and the associated machining challenges. Access to the right machining knowledge and tools emerges as paramount for propelling the next great leap in space exploration.

In collaboration with its customers and partners, Sandvik Coromant leads the way toward a sustainable future by supplying tooling solutions to the world’s engineering industries. With over eight decades of hands-on experience in metal-cutting and machining, Sandvik Coromant transforms challenges into opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and progressive solutions. The company’s commitment to promoting sustainability, efficiency, and growth positions it as a key contributor to shaping a future where innovation thrives within the global industrial engineering group Sandvik.

Original source www.mtwmag.com