STTR Phase II: Support Material Characterization for Ultrasonic Rapid Prototyping

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase II project will complete the development of a support material for Ultrasonic Consolidation (UC) direct metal rapid prototyping and demonstrate the ability to build structures with high aspect ratios or overhanging features. This ability to apply UC to more complex shapes will enable engineers to design important parts more rapidly and less expensively. Basic iinformation developed on the mechanical properties of metals experiencing ultrasonic excitation will also be useful in other industrial processes, such as extrusion and ball milling. The project will use the results from Phase I to identify a user friendly, cost effective, environmentally benign and easily removed support material, and demonstrate that its application can be integrated with the commercial UC platform.