Additive Manufacturing for Microwave Vacuum Electron Device Cost Reduction

Disruptive Technology Associates will develop additive manufacturing (3-D printing) techniques for microwave vacuum electronics that will change the supply chain, allowing vacuum electronics units to be built with lower overall cost while supporting a sporadic ordering cycle. The Phase I program address several key material and materials integration risk areas. The program will assess several types of additive fabrication solutions for achieving components with the necessary vacuum-compatibility, and thermal, electrical, and magnetic properties needed for a successful design. The program also explores vacuum electronics design changes and tradeoffs that have the potential to facilitate cost-saving additive manufacturing approaches or employ new additive geometries to enhance performance. At the completion of Phase I, the team will have identified and de-risked the most promising approaches for achieving high quality parts that can be commercially produced, thereby laying the foundation for developing process and equipment in Phase II that can be widely adopted by the industry.