Youngstown, OH – September 12, 2016 – The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory of Oak Ridge, Tennessee and Strangpresse, LLC of Youngstown, Ohio have entered into a CRADA to evaluate the Strangpresse Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM) extruder and conduct material testing for long fiber reinforced materials.
ORNL is leading advances in the production of large-scale 3-D printed materials, refining industrial processes to decrease costs and increase efficiency.
Strangpresse has developed a new polymer extrusion system capable of processing in excess of 50 kilos/hr. Under the CRADA ORNL will validate the flow rate, system response time, and linearity of flow, as well as identify processing parameters, make test articles, and qualify material properties with a specific focus on long fiber reinforced polymers.
“We are very excited to be teaming up with ORNL again. The processing of long fiber reinforced polymers is a game changer for Additive Manufacturing, the Industry will no longer be comparing the strength of the part as it relates to the base thermoplastic polymer, but rather a factor related to the fiber strength.” said Strangpresse CEO Chuck George.
Phase one of the project will focus on testing of the extruder, beginning with the coordination of system requirements between the two companies. ORNL will then begin to integrate the Strangpresse extruder to a test apparatus, to validate the physical, electrical, and computational capabilities and to fully characterize the extruder.
Phase two focuses on the testing and evaluation of the Strangpresse BAAM extruder, with ORNL selecting three long fiber reinforced thermoplastics to use in the full evaluation of the system. They will then manufacture test articles and measure material properties, and conclude by the creation of a demonstration article, along with a CRADA final report given to the DOE.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security. ORNL’s diverse capabilities span a broad range of scientific and engineering disciplines, enabling the Laboratory to explore fundamental science challenges and to carry out the research needed to accelerate the delivery of solutions to the marketplace. ORNL supports DOE’s national missions.
Strangpresse was founded in 2014 to research, develop, and commercialize fully controllable, lightweight, thermoplastic extruders to be used primarily in Additive Manufacturing (AM). Strangpresse was the first company to license ORNL suit of patents associated with large scale additive manufacturing on a non-exclusive basis. ORNL and UT-Battelle work closely with them to ensure successful commercialization of the technologies. This technology development was supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Advanced Manufacturing Office. AMO supports applied research, development and demonstration of new materials and processes for energy efficiency in manufacturing as well as platform technologies for the manufacturing of clean energy products.
Strangpresse has also been contracted by Lockheed Martin Space Systems to provide an advanced extruder for use in their Multi-Robotic Additive Cluster Research and Development initiative. They are also working with Baylor University, of Waco, Texas to develop extrusion equipment that meet their AM production and research needs, specifically related to long fiber orientation. The Strangpresse leadership team has over 70 years’ experience in the thermoplastic extrusion industry. In addition to its licensing agreement with ORNL, they have partnered with Rockwell Automation’s original equipment manufacturer team to continue its development of control and monitoring systems for its extrusion equipment.
For more information please visit strangpresse.com
Media Contact
Company Name: Strangpresse, LLC
Email: sales@strangpresse.com
Phone: 855.435.6779
Address:241 W. Federal St, Suite 202
City: Youngstown
State: Ohio
Country: United States
Website: http://www.strangpresse.com/