Mass Fabricating S&A with Bulk Metallic Glass: Micro-Components with Nano-scale Tolerance

In Phase I Tanner Research has already demonstrated a state of the art technology suitable for facilitating the mass fabrication of metallic components used in high g gun-launched MEMS-based S&A devices. The emerging need for micro-scale S&A devices to complement the smart fuzing in modern munitions is jeopardized by high implementation cost of the metallic components able to survive the harsh gun-launch environment. The impact of cost reduction and/or cost avoidance on implementing critical munitions’ designs actually starts with the S&A device. Tanner Research is proposing as a primary objective to further develop and refine the micro to nano scale manufacturing techniques required to establish a process for extremely high-rate, low-cost manufacture of micro-scale components needed for use in the Army’s MEMS safe and arm device. We envision the Phase II program to be an opportunity to develop a batch scale forming process to mass fabricate metallic sliders and parts.