NASA Can Now Generate Objects Using Electron Beams

-->
-->

Instead of using normal 3D manufacturing, NASA has developed an electron beam fabrication system proficient of creating any object. And hey, if it uses electron beams. Electron beams, people. That means it’s awe-inspiring.

The new method, called Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) which make use of the electron beam to melt raw material inside a vacuum. The beam is capable of creating any mechanical part you want for a small fraction of the cost of preceding methods:

-->
Usually an aircraft builder might begin with a 6,000-pound block of titanium and machine it down to a 300-pound part, parting 5,700 pounds of material that desires to be recycled as well as using several thousand gallons of cutting fluid used in the process.

-->

With EBF3 you can build up the same part using just 350 pounds of titanium and machine away just 50 pounds to get the part into its concluding configuration. And the EBF3 process uses a lesser amount of electricity to create the same part.

NASA says that this method will not simply help aircraft manufacturers on Earth, but also astronauts, who might one day; use it to make replacing parts throughout missions in remote bases.