Direct Part Manufacturing (DPM) for Nonstructural Components

Paramount Industries Inc. has an extensive knowledge of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Paramount Industries understands that material performance and mechanical properties of a given SLS material are directly correlated to multiple material and process parameters that must be optimized in order to achieve desired performance characteristics. Paramount Industries Inc. successfully proved the feasibility of using high temperature (HT) SLS to manufacture nonstructural components for aerospace applications. The Phase II effort will focus on validating and demonstrating the HT SLS technology through a series of test methods. Paramount Industries Inc. has partnered with several companies to increase the successful transition of the technology into production. Paramount Industries is relying on an integrated support team of experts, people that have assisted Paramount Industries Ind. for the past 9 years on internal R&D. BENEFIT: HT SLS technology will have a direct positive impact on the F-35 JSF program allowing: I. Increase Payload: „X The use of a high temperature resistant material allows for weight reductions since no insulation materials are necessary. „X Complex duct connections that required special fittings can be manufactured in one piece or completely removed. II. Increase Mission Readiness: „X The use of DPM via SLS can decrease the down time due to repairs to nonstructural components. „X Reduce assembly time on assembly lines, less components, less part count and inventory errors. „X The ability to rapidly fabricate spare parts and improved part design on demand can reduce the maintenance time. „X Reduce processing and post processing of parts (i.e. welding, heat treating, corrosion treatments, insulation). III. Increase Number of Systems and Accelerated Fielding of Systems: „X DDM enables the rapid implementation and fielding of new design changes for nonstructural components „X Eliminate tooling requirements for certain parts „X Decrease delivery times of parts „X From 2-3 weeks lead time using traditional methods to 2-3 days A high temperature material available to the LS market will have significant impact outside of the JSF program. ALM, for example, has already identified several key application areas with their current customer base. The two top markets outside of aerospace appear to be in: 1) Automotive Industry. Key ¡§under the hood¡¨ components in specialty, low production vehicles. The anticipated high stiffness of most high temperature thermoplastics and resulting lower elongation to break is not a significant issue in this industry. The racig industry will also show a lot of acceptance for a material and a technlogy of this type. 2) Tooling. 3) Unmanned Systems (Air, Ground, Water) 4) Medical Industry.