{"action":"closed","issue":{"url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/issues/18","repository_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards","labels_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/issues/18/labels{/name}","comments_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/issues/18/comments","events_url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/issues/18/events","html_url":"https://github.com/briligg/moonwards/issues/18","id":147505035,"number":18,"title":"Melt In Place Station ","user":{"login":"briligg","id":5508441,"avatar_url":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/5508441?v=3","gravatar_id":"","url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg","html_url":"https://github.com/briligg","followers_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/followers","following_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/following{/other_user}","gists_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/gists{/gist_id}","starred_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/starred{/owner}{/repo}","subscriptions_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/subscriptions","organizations_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/orgs","repos_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/repos","events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/events{/privacy}","received_events_url":"https://api.github.com/users/briligg/received_events","type":"User","site_admin":false},"labels":[{"url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/labels/Master","name":"Master","color":"b08894"},{"url":"https://api.github.com/repos/briligg/moonwards/labels/MIP%20station","name":"MIP station","color":"b60205"}],"state":"closed","locked":false,"assignee":null,"assignees":[],"milestone":null,"comments":0,"created_at":"2016-04-11T17:55:37Z","updated_at":"2016-09-20T16:14:46Z","closed_at":"2016-09-20T16:14:46Z","body":"_All of the models are being posted for ongoing input to their design. This is first draft level work. Any input regarding them is welcome. This initial post in this thread will be updated as the model changes. All models are available as part of the **CP-MissionX-Master.blend.zip** files, where X is the mission number. Right now only mission 3 is available._\r\n\r\n![mip-ap11](https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/5508441/14436956/9ebb81c6-ffe4-11e5-9a2d-2d6ef8c072d4.png)\r\n\r\nLine 554:\r\nThis is the melt-in-place bed - the MIP. It arrives on the first mission. The techniques for working with melted basalt  will be developed here. It can use any regolith feedstock made of small grains, which melt quickly. The crane and rovers deliver that after screening to eliminate chunks larger than 2 or 3 mm. In this region the regolith on the surface should be basalt, which is ideal. Lunar basalt is really runny when fully melted, and crystallizes quickly as it cools. With the right process it can be made strong in both tension and compression. Near its freezing temperature it is thick and gooey, suitable for use like plaster or glue. It should be possible to learn enough processes during Mission 1 for this station to produce supports for  the solar furnace, crane, and basalt thread production  stations, saving considerable payload mass on Mission 2.\r\n\r\nLIne 695:\r\nThe MIPs are powered by sapphire Fresnel lenses. The lane between the raised rails is the fixed bed portion. The frame of this square lens levels the powder regolith used here with blades along its top and bottom edge. It focusses to a razor-sharp band covering most of the width of the bed below. With motors and pivots it can move along the rails, move up or down to adjust focus, or rotate off-axis to dilute its light. It is ~ 9 m by 10 m. With solar energy of ~ 1350 W/m<sup>2</sup> falling on it, less 15% due to reflection, that's 100 kW. If you've ever started a fire with a magnifying glass, imagine something 10,000 times as big with sunlight 30% stronger, uninterrupted for 14 days at a time. It isn't even overkill, lava is mighty useful. Arches, beams, columns, struts, panels, tiles, all easily made here. It could go from end to end of the bed melting the top of its regolith into one long shallow sheet of lava, and just before it has cooled into a solid, a graphite blade (which i believe won't stick to it) can be used to slice it up into shapes as desired.\r\n\r\nLine 715:\r\nTo the side is a more flexible MIP area, for building complex shapes and experimenting. Different lenses are used, focusing to points or bands, or small for precise work. On the square lenses, by using a narrow opaque strip that slides across the frame, a moving section of the concentrated sunlight band is blocked. That would leave an unmelted path where the light didn't fall. Or, use a flap on each side of the lens, and move them to block the sunlight except in a narrow band, and do the reverse. Build up shapes layer by layer this way and you have a crude 3d printer. Make turbine housings - heavy things with a simple shape. Furniture - the robots can be more efficient with custom workbenches, shelves, and such. A working vise would be an interesting challenge. And since everything will be modular, these lenses would pop off their pivoting arms so a rover or the crane-bot can use them in situ.\r\n\r\n[SketchFab model](https://skfb.ly/MLnN)"}}
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