Sciaky's EBAM process achieves qualification for huge satellite fuel tanks

Chicago-based Sciaky Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries Inc. (PSI) and a provider of metal additive manufacturing (AM) technology, has achieved qualification with its Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM®) process, stemming from the completion of qualification testing performed by Lockheed Martin Space on a multiyear development program to create giant, high-pressure tanks that carry fuel for satellites.

Including the middle tank, the titanium vessel is about 8 ft. tall. Lockheed Martin, which 3-D-printed both halves of the 46-in. titanium fuel tank domes on an EBAM 110 machine, said the tanks met or exceeded the performance and reliability required by NASA, allowing them to become a standard product option on LM 2100 satellites.