Scheurer Swiss contributes to SpaceHopper

Scheurer Swiss is involved in the SpaceHopper focus project from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH). With its longstanding expertise in fiber composite technologies, used in formula 1 among other things, the company based in Volketswil in the Swiss canton of Zurich is developing components that have been 3D printed.

The three-legged hopping robot is intended for asteroid exploration in zero gravity. In a press release from Scheurer Swiss, mechanical designer Emma Steinke explained: “One of the challenges was to make the legs as thin-walled as possible to minimize the overall weight of the robot. Nevertheless, they have to withstand the forces of the bouncing impact.”

With the support of specialists from research, industry, and lightweight construction, the ten budding engineers from ETH Zurich and the Zurich University of Applied Sciences have developed and built “the revolutionary mobility platform” in just eight months. Steinke added that Scheurer Swiss’ knowledge and large network were very valuable and contributed to the success of the focus project from the very beginning.

According to Scheurer, additive manufacturing directly based on 3D computer data can be used in particular to cost effectively manufacture components with a high degree of customization and the required stability and functionality: “3D printing is currently one of the most modern lightweight construction technologies and is shaping the future of the manufacturing industry like hardly any other process.”