Inconel Thrust Chamber Comparison Between 3D Printing and Machined Prototypes

In this study a preliminary characterization is reported on 3D printed and machined Inconel thrust chambers developed for a propulsion system based on in situ water electrolysis. After briefly outlining the operating principle of the propulsion concept, the paper details the main components of the system and the dedicated test bench used for performance evaluation. Two geometrically identical prototypes, produced via Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), are tested under the same operating conditions. Key parameters such as thrust, pressure, and mass flow rate are measured, and the blowdown profiles are shown and discussed to assess repeatability and anomalies.