Mining on the moon is a few years off yet, but when it does happen North Bay can claim part of the credit.
Canadore College’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (ICAMP) is helping prepare for the next stages of Canadian participation in deep space exploration.
Under contract to Deltion Innovations Ltd. of Capreol, Ont., and in partnership with Atlas Copco, ICAMP has been working on the project for nearly eight months. Specifically, the Centre was engaged to use its additive manufacturing capability to produce prototype tool ends for Deltion’s space mining multi-purpose tool, labeled PROMPT (Percussive and Rotary Multi-Purpose Tool).
“For obvious reasons, this project was a dream to work on,” said Evan Butler-Jones, applied research lead at ICAMP. “The complexity of this undertaking made it both challenging and exciting. It is thrilling to participate in this small way to Canada’s efforts in developing the space mining industry.”
Atlas and Deltion brought the PROMPT concept and tool designs to ICAMP for manufacturing and production. The Centre utilized its additive manufacturing resources, including its 3D metal printer and computer numerical control equipment, to prototype the commissioned parts.
“Deltion has been working on space mining technologies for almost two decades,” said Dale Boucher, CEO of Deltion Innovations. “The use of additive manufacturing is a means to develop the complex geometries required for the tool ends of PROMPT. We are very pleased with the results of this project and we look forward to a continued collaboration with ICAMP.”
The finalized products were recently delivered to Deltion Innovations, which will be testing the multi-purpose tool for future deep space applications such as on the moon, Mars and asteroids.
