Additive Manufacturing Techniques

ABSTRACT: Vector ElectroMagnetics, LLC will identify and develop cost effective additive manufacturing materials, processes, and techniques sufficient to prototype and produce future components supporting current and future ICBM programs.More specifically, two primary objectives will be the focus of this effort.First, we will develop cost effective additive manufacturing materials, processes, and techniques based on the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Additive Manufacturing (AM) process to produce high performance structural components.Second, we will develop cost effective additive manufacturing materials, processes, and techniques based on the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) Additive Manufacturing (AM) process to produce high performance Multi-Functional NanoComposite structural components.Flat Panels will be fabricated and tested (mechanically, radiation, EMI) using processes developed during this effort.; BENEFIT: Advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes would allow for the production of structural components, in a cost effective manner on an "on-demand" basis. AM also provides the ability for combined parts manufacture and the ability to include additional functionality into parts.For example, parts will be fabricated with high-Z materials to improve the radiation shielding effectiveness of systems as well as materials to improve the EMI/HPM shielding effectiveness. Finally, parts can be fabricated as a single unit as opposed to multiple pieces/materials which require assembly. Complete single component end item manufacturing provides savings by reducing labor and materials costs while offering operational benefits by reducing maintenance through lower parts count, easier acquisition of spares, and reduced system weight.