First Commercial 3D Printer Sent to Space by Lowe's and Made in Space

Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW) has partnered with Made in Space to send a commercial 3D printer to the International Space Station.

According to 3D Printing Industry:

It’s truly an incomprehensible universe when a home improvement chain is at the forefront of technological advancement.  Perhaps they were sick of the stagnation of selling 20th Century tools or their CEO, Robert A. Niblock, is really a mad scientist.  I don’t know why, but, through the Lowe’s Innovation Labs, the company is at least presenting a the appearance of a desire to implement new technology in a traditional retail environment.  The latest news from the Innovation Labs – after 3D printing in stores, robotic assistants, and holodeck-style shopping environments – is that Lowe’s has partnered with Made In Space, the company that sent the first 3D printer to the International Space Station, to send a commercial 3D printer to the ISS.

News that Made In Space would be sending its Additive Manufacturing Facility (AMF) to the ISS next year was released this summer, when the space-focused startup announced that it had not only achieved the ability to 3D print in a vacuum, but that it would plan to 3D print CubeSats aboard the ISS. The AMF is an upgrade to the already existing Zero-G Printer that was installed on the Space Station last year and will have a variety of improvements that include multi-material functionality and, possibly even, the ability to 3D print low-temperature metals.

Click here to read the full article on 3D Printing Industry.