Three-dimensional part smoothing in reduced gravity

A computer system for smoothing a 3D-printed object in a low gravity environment, the computer system comprising:

• a plurality of radiative heating elements, one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage medium, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising:
• positioning the plurality of radiative heating elements within the low-gravity environment to evenly heat one or more surfaces of the 3D-printed object based on a shape of the 3D-printed object, wherein the 3D-printed object is secured in place by a single clamp;
• determining, for at least one of the one or more radiative heating elements, a desired heat output necessary to melt the outermost layers of the one or more surfaces;
• and
• pulsing the one or more radiative heating elements to melt the one or more surfaces, wherein the duration and frequency of the pulsing is configured to achieve the desired heat output.

A computer program product for smoothing a 3D-printed object in a low gravity environment, the computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer-readable tangible storage media and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage media, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
• positioning a plurality of radiative heating elements within the low-gravity environment to evenly heat one or more surfaces of the 3D-printed object based on a shape of the 3D-printed object, wherein the 3D-printed object is secured in place by a single clamp;
• determining, for at least one of the plurality of radiative heating elements, a desired heat output necessary to melt the outermost layers of the one or more surfaces;
• and
• pulsing the plurality of radiative heating elements to melt the one or more surfaces, wherein the duration and frequency of the pulsing is configured to achieve the desired heat output.