NASA has a gearbox that works at -279 F

[Geneman]

remarkable. they show that is works well after pouring liq.nitrogen. < the 279 deg. F in the box....cooler than snot...

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-gears-can-withstand-impact-freezing-temperatures-during-lunar-missions

[GH85Carrera]

That is cool.

One of the issues that had on the original moon missions was finding a grease or oil that works in a vacuum or the temperatures on the moon in the shade.

[sammyg2]

My son has been designing a test stand for a liquid fuel rocket motor complete with pneumatics, hydraulics and fuel supply.

One of the challenges he faced was getting pneumatically controlled, high-pressure solenoid-operated throttle valves that could go from ambient temperature to flowing liquid O2 in a matter of seconds without failing (between −297 and −361 °F).
it took awhile but he made the right contacts and got what he needed. Seems that technology isn't classified but some of it can be "unofficially protected" and they don't give it up to just anyone.

It's hard enough getting that stuff to work given the conditions on earth, it gets darn near unpossible when it goes up there.

[Geneman]

It must involve extreme matching of the metallurgic properties of the metals in contact with one another regarding expansion / contraction tolerances, speed at which they occur etc.... interesting but not for me. i will stick with genetic engineering: all DNA is essentially the same,... except Byrons of course...

[sammyg2]

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Simple.

ZDDP straight up!

[mjohnson]

Old school - like the first of this generation's mars rover - there'd be a little puck of Pu-238 to warm whatever needed warming. It's good to see that we're making it again (thanks Oak Ridge!), we need it for other things than rover-leg-warmers...

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Geneman

I except Byrons of course...

His DNA is just interlocked Fuchs wheels isn’t it?



Cool to hear about the PU pucks. I’d never heard they did that.

[IROC]

=mjohnson;11013501It's good to see that we're making it again (thanks Oak Ridge!), we need it for other things than rover-leg-warmers...

You're welcome.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

My Toyota 4x4 had that from new back in 1994

[sammyg2]

[RWebb]

huh - didn't know those were available separately

must be aftermarket