SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Binder Jet Printer for Advanced Additive Manufacturing
- Notice Date
- 8/23/2016
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 333517
— Machine Tool Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- NASA/Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44135
- ZIP Code
- 44135
- Solicitation Number
- NNC16597279Q
- Archive Date
- 9/15/2016
- Point of Contact
- Sandra A. Brickner, Phone: 2164336093
- E-Mail Address
-
Sandra.a.brickner@nasa.gov
(Sandra.a.brickner@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- NASA/GRC has a requirement for a Binder Jetting Machine with associated equipment and software, Quantity (1) one. NASA/GRC intends to purchase the items from The ExOne Company, North Huntingdon, PA. NASA GRC has initiated a new research area on additive manufacturing of ceramic matrix composites in support of our mission focus on high temperature materials for aircraft engines. As part of this focus, we recently completed a year-long development program with a contractor in which we adapted the binder jet process to optimize it for the fabrication of ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials. The binder jet process was chosen because it is considered by the technical experts in the field (both in industry & NASA GRC) to be the most suitable for fabricating CMC's. The powder bed processing approach allows for the optimization and integration of the matrix and the reinforcing fiber materials. Also, the binder jetting process, allows for opportunities for improving the matrix compositions and properties as well as the density. In the recently ended effort, we had used the contractor's ExOne binder jet machine for the development of CMCs. NASA GRC does not currently have the capability to do the binder jet processing in-house because we do not have the necessary machine. This procurement will provide that capability. This purchase will allow for direct control of the additive manufacturing approach so that all steps in the process can be optimized. The ExOne binder jet system is currently the only one which allows for the development and manufacturing of tailored powders, fiber reinforcement, and jetting material for making silicon carbide (SiC)-based CMCs. The CMC materials that we use for this work are developmental and are adjusted/modified as needed to optimize the quality and mechanical properties of the composites that are produced. NASA GRC has very stringent material requirements that we must meet (strength, durability, operating temperature) in order for the materials to function suitably in an aircraft engine environment. This requires experimentation with the material compositions and constituents to identify the optimal materials that will result in the properties that we need. To meet the requirements for the fabrication of CMCs, the additive manufacturing machine must have the ability for powder bed processing with binder jetting for the buildup of parts layer upon layer. The machine must be versatile in its capability so that it is suitable for printing with powders which support the manufacturing of ceramic materials (SiC powders and SiC chopped fibers). The build volume should be sufficient for research and development with the ability to manufacture parts that are at least 6" length x 2.5" width x 2.5" height. For a machine that achieves only the minimum build volume, the ceramic manufacturing processes should be transferrable to an additive manufacturing machine that has a larger build volume. The print speed per layer should be 30-60 seconds. The layer thicknesses should be variable with a minimum of 0.002" (50.8 µm). Print resolution of 63.5 µm/60.0 µm/50-100 µm in the X/Y/Z directions is required. Powder size capability should be in the 15-50 microns range. The printer should use piezo-electric printheads which allows for precise jetting control of binder materials and the use of lower temperature binders compared to thermal printheads. Computer operation and interface software is required for print control, printer maintenance, and slicing of build layouts with data interface formats to include STL, CLI, and SLC. The overall system should be integrated with capability for oven curing and furnace sintering of printed parts. The powder bed processing should allow for the tailoring of ceramic powder blends and the incorporation of fiber reinforcement and be suitable for the additive manufacturing of ceramics and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) consisting of oxide and non-oxide ceramics. Therefore it is more cost effective and in the best interest of the government to purchase the ExOne binder jetting machine and eliminate the need for an external contract to complete the process development that is needed to fabricate durable and fully-dense CMC's. The capability will allow for a direct continuation of the previous CMC development using additive manufacturing without the delays and increased cost that would be required for different and less suitable equipment. The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 4:30 p.m. local time on August 31, 2016. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. NASA Clause 1852.215-84, Ombudsman, is applicable. The Center Ombudsman for this acquisition can be found at http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/pub/pub_library/Omb.html
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/GRC/OPDC20220/NNC16597279Q/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NASA Glenn Research Center, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44129, United States
- Zip Code: 44129
- Zip Code: 44129
- Record
- SN04237946-W 20160825/160824000437-d806682189cf5250707402ad210dd533 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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