Near Net Shape Vacuum Deposition for Torsional and Planar TiNi Actuators

Shape Change Technologies (SCT), in conjunction with the Mechanical Engineering Dept of UCLA, is proposing to use its proprietary spray deposition technology for producing near net shapes of TiNi shape memory material. While the focus of this initialeffort is on torque tube shapes, the process is sufficiently versatile to permit the fabrication of other complex geometries.The key advantages to SCT proprietary process are:1. End manufacturing is reduced from several weeks to several days, i.e. net shape without additional machining.2. Significant (50 to 75%) cost savings when compared to conventional manufacturing approaches, even in low volume production.3. Process is amenable to production quantities for the V-22 program.4. Mechanical interfaces are integrated as part of the actuator structure, which was a significant issue in attaching high force TiNi devices to structures.The proposed effort will fabricate torque tubes and planar specimens and characterize their actuation behavior as a function of process conditions. The commercial markets for near net shape actuator quality TiNi are substantial. Of the various forms that can be generated, porous TiNi offers the largest markets, compared to torque tubes or ribbon. Commercial applications for porous SMA componentsare numerous. The possibility of incorporating the material as a high strain shock damping device have yet to be fully explored. Biomedical applications for TiNi SMA have just started taking off with the recent success of TiNi intra-spinal componentsand bone insertion devices. As a coating, TiNi as a cavitation protection material has been proven in research, but commercially incorporating the technology have been hindered by a lack of a fabrication technique, which this proposal addresses.