STTR Phase I: A Multi-Axis Planning System (MAPS) for Direct Fabrication Processes

这个小企业技术转移（STTR）第一阶段项目将研究和开发一个创新的多轴规划系统，或MAPS，分层制造过程。第一阶段研究项目的目标是探索开发一种高效的MAPS算法来驱动制造系统的可行性，并与参与的工业合作伙伴一起在生产机器上实际测试该算法。这项研究将证明开发一个有效的和强大的规划和控制系统的多轴机床，建立一般的3-D机械零件的可行性。如果成功，该项目将把全自动多轴控制能力引入分层制造行业，以生产具有复杂形状的功能性金属零件。这种能力将导致大幅度减少高价值、小批量部件的交货期和制造成本，例如燃气涡轮机壳体、复杂的组合机身以及由昂贵原材料制造或需要高成本精加工操作的其他产品。这种创新的制造技术还将有助于建立前沿部署的部件维修和系统可持续性。

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will research and develop an innovative Multi- Axis Planning System, or MAPS, for layered manufacturing processes. The objectives of this Phase I research project is to explore the feasibility of developing an efficient MAPS algorithm to drive the manufacturing system and to actually test the algorithm in a production machine with the participating industrial partners. This proposed research will demonstrate the feasibility to develop an efficient and robust planning and control system for a multi-axis machine to build general 3-D mechanical parts. If successful, the proposed project will bring fully automated multi-axis control capability into layered manufacturing industry to produce functional metal parts with complicated shapes. Such a capability will lead to dramatic reductions in lead time and manufacturing costs for high-value, low-volume components, such as gas turbine engine cases, complex unitized airframes, and other products built from expensive raw materials or requiring high-cost finishing operations. This innovative manufacturing technology will also enable establishment of forward-deployed component repair and system sustainability.