Relativity Space has announced that they have secured an $8.7 million contract with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to delve into real-time flaw detection in additive manufacturing.
Over the span of two years, the company undertook extensive research aimed at enhancing quality control in 3D printing processes, particularly in the realm of large-scale metal printing. This endeavor was in direct response to congressional mandates outlined in the National Defense Authorization Act, which urged the exploration of additive manufacturing to expedite aerospace component and vehicle production.
Working closely with AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Relativity Space leveraged its expertise and innovative Stargate 3D printing platform to address critical challenges in the field. Through the development and validation of a real-time flaw detection system, the company aimed to establish a robust digital thread across the aerospace manufacturing lifecycle.
Hicks said AFRL will work with Relativity on real-time flaw detection in large-format additive manufacturing. “The intent is to explore various in-situ process monitoring and post-build non-destructive evaluation techniques, along with advanced robotics, automation and digital enterprise tools,” he said.
Non-destructive evaluation techniques are used to ensure the quality and integrity of the final product by examining the structure of a part without damaging it.
“Relativity Space will develop and prove a real-time flaw detection system which will detect, localize and classify defects during the print process,” said Adam Hicks, from AFRL.
“This data will then be aggregated, enabling a true digital thread.”
This advancement held significant promise for widespread adoption of additive manufacturing in spaceflight and other demanding applications. As one of the pioneering companies in the field, Relativity Space played a pivotal role in advancing the capabilities of additive manufacturing within the aerospace industry.
Source: spacenews.com
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