NASA is hosting a two-day industry conference, Sept. 20-21, to promote an innovative manufacturing technique that can make metal parts from three-dimensional drawings - even in the zero gravity of space.
Government and industry leaders will discuss the future and possibilities of electron beam freeform fabrication or EBF3, which can be used to make components for aviation, spaceflight, or even the medical industry. At the forum NASA will present a novel technology developed by engineers at the Langley Research Center that can be applied to electron beam welding systems.
NASA's technique consists of an electron beam gun, wire feeder and positioning system inside a vacuum chamber. The beam is focused on a constantly feeding source of metal, which is melted and then accurately applied one layer at a time, according to a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing, to make a 3-D structural part without having to use a mold.
The EBF3 Forum at the Hampton Roads Convention Center will give industry and government participants an opportunity to learn more about NASA's technology and join in discussions on advancements, research and possible funding partnerships.
The forum is sponsored by NASA Langley, Old Dominion University Business Gateway, RTI International and Virginia PLTW. It is open to the public, but registration is required.
Popular Articles
- COMET robot machining consortium meets at Fraunhofer
- Rapiscan Uses Autodesk Vault to Effectively Collaborate on Security Products
- SigmaNEST Delivers Results to Tampa Bay Steel
- InventorCAM 2012 makes its debut, reducing cycle times by up to 70% for Autodesk customers, with iMachining
- EDS Technologies Signs MoU With Mar Baselios College Of Engineering
- Delcam launches DentSCAN dental scanner
- Delcam's ArtCAM speeds ice bar production
- Delcam's new web site for PartMaker CAM system for production machining
- GE Scientists Decorate the Christmas Tree With 3-D Printed Ornaments
- Panso Solutions of India Joins the Aras Partner Program
