{
  "id": 501999,
  "title": "Prototype Development Laboratory (PDL) Capabilities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/prototype-development-laboratory-pdl-capabilities",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-10T20:54:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NASA Science",
    "slug": "nasa-science",
    "url": "https://www.nasa.gov/kennedy/partnerships/prototypedevelopmentlaboratorypdlcapabilities/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Prototype Development Laboratory (PDL) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) offers a wide range of capabilities for mechanical computer numeric control (CNC) machining, electrical discharge machines, and water-jet cutting. The facility also provides mechanical and structural fabrication services, as well as pneumatics and hydraulics fabrication.\n\nIn addition to these capabilities, the PDL is equipped for rapid prototyping, sheet metal fabrication, welding and soldering, composite materials fabrication, and additive manufacturing. This includes both traditional welding techniques and orbital welding, as well as various forms of electrical power and electrical systems fabrication.\n\nThe laboratory also offers 3D scanning and measuring services, laser engraving, and design services for mechanical and electrical prototypes. Design for Manufacturability consultation and reverse engineering are also available.\n\nTesting facilities are provided for testing of hazardous equipment, with data acquisition handled using LabVIEW software programming. 3D printing capabilities include Fused Deposition Manufacturing (FDM) and Fiber-reinforced FDM 3D printing, as well as object color 3D printing and Metal-X 3D printing.\n\nSpecialized equipment for camera housing welding inside the PDL includes a metal-X 3D printer and composite material equipment, such as a mold router, curing ovens, and vacuum systems. The facility also offers camera housing welding inside the PDL, as well as milling components for Vehicle Damper Systems.",
  "summary": "Capabilities Mechanical Electrical Design Testing 3D Printing Composite Material equipment (mold router, curing ovens, vacuum systems) The post Prototype Development Laboratory (PDL) Capabilities appeared first on NASA Science .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}