The PDL is comprised of a team of NASA engineers and engineering technicians whose primary purpose is the design, fabrication, and testing of prototypes, test articles, and test support equipment. The PDL supports all of the major engineering programs and research and technology projects in development at KSC.

The PDL also has a long history of providing fast solutions to complex operations problems, helping our launch site customers get back to the business of processing and launching rockets and payloads. The PDL takes challenging problems and delivers complete, documented solutions. The PDL can also provide custom tools and equipment to help customers improve their processes. The laboratory is equipped with a state-of-the-art machine shop with Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining, welding and soldering, pneumatics and hydraulics fabrication, sheet metal fabrication, rapid prototyping (three-dimensional (3D) printing), composite materials fabrication, electrical fabrication, data acquisition, 3D digital scanning, and LabVIEW software programming.

PDL Design Engineering Services include mechanical engineering design and analysis, mechanisms and kinematics, and Creo Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing. Our design team is co-located within a machine shop full of highly experienced technicians. Together, the designers and technicians provide a valuable resource for teaching the art of manufacturing engineering to less experienced engineers.

Mechanical

• Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining
• Electrical Discharge Machines
• Water-jet
• Mechanical & structural fabrication
• Pneumatics and hydraulics fabrication
• Rapid prototyping
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Welding and soldering
• Composite materials fabrication
• Additive manufacturing
• Welding
• Orbital welding

Electrical

• Power and electrical systems
• Electrical fabrication
• 3D scanning and measuring
• Laser Engraving

Design

• Mechanical and Electrical
• Prototype design and development
• Design for Manufacturability consultation
• Reverse engineering

Testing

• Facilities for testing of hazardous equipment
• Data acquisition
• LabVIEW software programming

3D Printing

• Fused Deposition Manufacturing (FDM) 3D printer Fiber-reinforced FDM 3D printer
• Object color 3D printer
• Metal-X 3D printer

Composite Material equipment (mold router, curing ovens, vacuum systems)