
Electron-Beam Additive Manufacturing Process Control for Titanium AlloysAward last edited on: 10/27/2009
Sponsored Program
SBIRAwarding Agency
DOD : AFTotal Award Amount
$99,280Award Phase
1Solicitation Topic Code
AF091C-002Principal Investigator
Vivek R DaveCompany Information
Technology Management Company Inc (AKA: TMA Joint Venture)
Location: Multiple
Congr. District: 01
County: Bernalillo
Congr. District: 01
County: Bernalillo
Phase I
Contract Number: ----------Start Date: ---- Completed: ----
Phase I year
2009Phase I Amount
$99,280Benefits:
By achieving an eBAM cost as low as $300 per pound, dramatic improvements will be achieved in aircraft and aeroengine prototyping, rapid product development, and even LRIP low rate initial production. Also the associated lead times for flight hardware will drop from over one year to less than three months for new designs. The takt time for parts less than 40lbs total deposit weight (the part itself could be considerably heavier on account of large plate stock onto which deposits are made) using the optimized eBAM process described in this proposal is approximately 6-7 hours, which means it is possible to get one part per day, or an LRIP production rate for a single eBAM work cell without any redundant process equipment of 20 parts per month ( 40 per month if two shift operation) assuming a 5-day per week, 8-hour per day shift. The logistical implications for both OEM and spare parts are tremendously favourable. It is anticipated that such tremendous cost, lead time and productivity benefits will also accrue to other titanium parts for other defence applications as well as commercial aviation, or to any application that utilizes large, high quality titanium parts. Also, the same methodology could be adapted to steel, monel and aluminium bronze parts, thereby similarly revolutionizing the supply chain for critical naval spares.
Keywords:
Titanium, Electron Beam Deposition, Aerospace And Defence Manufacturing, In-Process Quality Assurance, Imaging And Non-Imaging Optical Sensors, Closed-Loop Process Control, Co
Phase II
Contract Number: ----------Start Date: ---- Completed: ----