Titomic, RMIT to build satellite structural parts for Lockheed Martin

Melbourne-based industrial additive manufacturing company, Titomic Limited, has entered into a commercial research and development agreement with RMIT University to explore the manufacture of satellite structural components for Lockheed Martin.

The study will assess the capabilities of Titomic Kinetic Fusion® (TKF) to create structural satellite parts made from a high-performance metal. Titomic’s participation in this joint research project will analyse the various capabilities of both traditional and additive manufacturing methods relative to radiation shielding within satellites.

Under this research agreement, Titomic will manufacture high-performance, metal demonstration samples for satellite parts using its industrial-scale TKF additive manufacturing process. This research project may also lead to commercial opportunities for Titomic within the space and defence sectors following the successful validation of the additively manufactured demonstration satellite parts.

The small satellite components (cubes) market for commercial and government applications in the main areas of telecommunications, broadcasting, and data communications, with the market size anticipated to grow from USD $4.18B in 2018 to USD $18.30B by 2026, at a CAGR of 20.28%1.

Titomic’s Managing Director Jeff Lang said, “As we demonstrate the unique capabilities of TKF for the additive manufacture of satellite structures, using high-performance metals and superalloys, we are also enabling exponentially faster production to reduce lead-times for the space industry, from months to hours, compared to traditional processes.”

Professor Milan Brandt of RMIT University added, “The combination of additive manufacturing and highly-dense materials for this application offers new opportunities for not only increased radiation resistance but significantly reduced lead times for the manufacture of new satellites.”