Caltech's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) is pushing the boundaries of robotics and aerospace research. With a legacy that includes foundational work on the Moon landing and ongoing collaboration with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Caltech CAST continues its tradition of engineering excellence — now powered in part by VisionMiner's industrial 3D printing platform.
The Challenge
CAST researchers needed to address three core production challenges:
Rapid prototyping of complex, multi-component robotic systems at research pace
High-performance materials capable of surviving extreme environmental conditions — thermal, mechanical, and operational
Integration of custom, structurally complex parts that traditional manufacturing methods couldn't produce economically or quickly
The Solution
CAST deployed VisionMiner's industrial 3D printing ecosystem, centered on the 22 IDEX:
22 IDEX Industrial 3D Printer: Up to 70% of components in robots like the M4 Morphabot are now printed directly in-lab using the dual extrusion high-temperature system — eliminating outsourcing delays entirely.
CF Nylon & CF PEEK Filaments: Carbon fiber-filled materials provide titanium-class strength-to-weight ratios and heat resistance appropriate for field and near-space deployment.
Dual Extrusion (IDEX): Complex geometry parts with internal features, overhangs, and soluble support structures are printed in single runs — enabling designs that would require secondary machining on traditional single-head systems.
The Results
Dramatically accelerated design cycles: From concept to physical prototype in hours rather than weeks
Field-ready autonomous robots: The M4 Morphabot and STOR platforms are built largely from 22 IDEX-printed parts
Space deployment readiness: Parts tested and validated for rough terrain and environmental extremes
Radical design flexibility: Collapsible mechanisms, AI-enhanced movement systems, and custom geometries enabled by in-house high-temp FFF capability
"VisionMiner has enabled us to go from concept to mission-ready hardware faster than ever before. The 22 IDEX's dual extrusion capability and material range are essential to how we build at CAST."
Whether you're building autonomous vehicles, aerospace components, or precision robotics — the 22 IDEX gives your team the material capability and production speed of a full service bureau, in-house.
