Case Study: NASA achieves rapid, production-quality scanner housings and faster, more accurate shuttle tile inspections with 3D Systems' Quickparts

NASA AMES Building Parts for the Space Shuttle Tile Scanner

3D Systems’ Quickparts was engaged by NASA Ames to produce a custom housing for a new wireless scanner used to inspect the 24,000 heat‑protective tiles on the space shuttle Endeavour. The part needed to be produced very quickly in a production‑quality thermoplastic that could withstand repeated use, and NASA required instant pricing to keep the project on schedule.

Quickparts used Plastic Jet Printing and its QuickQuote instant‑quote system to build and begin shipping housings within a week, eliminating the need for expensive tooling. The lightweight scanner units now capture length, width and depth data in about three seconds, enabling six technicians to perform faster, more accurate inspections that save tiles and reduce unnecessary replacements.

NASA