SBIR-STTR Award

Lunar Resources , Inc. (LR) and University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) are developing the linear transformer driver additive manufacturing system (LTDAMS) for additively manufacturing of high-temperature materials. This revolutionary manufacturing technology utilizing high energy short EM pulses to heat materials can be applied to manufacture Orb/eVTOL/UAM combustors, injectors, turbine blades, and other parts requiring high temperature refractory and ceramic materials. The LTDAMS delivers pulsed energy to manufacture ultra-high temperature metals, alloys, and ceramics. The pulse rate, energy output and pulse lifetime can be scaled and adjusted to deliver a targeted amount of energy onto a material over a period of time, enabling the LTDAMS to manufacture parts from ultra-high temperature refractory materials with superior microstructures, and through micro-pulse annealing achieving down to a 3 ?m or better surface finish without requiring subtractive manufacturing processes.

Lunar Resources and the University of Alabama in Huntsville propose to adapt its novel space additive manufacturing technology to 3D print refractory metals and superalloys with ultra-high resolution for US Air Force applications on Earth. The technology will support current systems and future designs including hypersonic systems, space vehicles, UAVs, aircrafts and other systems which require high-temperature materials. The project involves modifying Lunar Resources in-space technology for terrestrial industrial applications and optimizing the power source and print head to perform ultra-efficient additive manufacturing on ultra-high temperature materials.