FINISHING TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED COMPLEX PARTS
3, December 2020

ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10564
Open Date: 03/12/2020
Closing Date: 28/01/2021 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.133.11
Prog. Ref.: GSTP Element 1 Dev
Budget Ref.: E/0904-611 – GSTP Element 1 Dev
Special Prov.: BE+DE+GB+AT
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Launchers / Materials / Metallic / Satellites & Probes / Materials / Metallic / Satellites & Probes / Mechanisms / Mechanisms / Deployment (SADM, SADE, …) / Satellites & Probes / Payloads / Instruments / RF and microwave Instruments / Other (Scatterometers,..)
Technology Domains: Materials and Processes / Materials Processes / Coating / Materials and Processes / Materials Processes / Advanced Materials Manufacture
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Mechanical Department
Division: Structure, Mechanisms & Materials Div.
Contract Officer: Reinsoo, Anna
Industrial Policy Measure: N/A – Not apply
Last Update Date: 03/12/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

Additive Manufacturing of metal parts is revolutionising the space industry thanks to the new design freedom, cost reduction and performance optimization. One of the challenges of the AM process is the insufficient surface finish, internal stresses and the presence of surface defects. It is therefore important to develop finishing technologies which are capable of producing parts in a finalcondition which are compliant to space relevant requirements. Previous activities have shown that finishing technologies can be developed successfully at sample level. An activity is now required to bring the technologies to the stage where the technologies can be adopted for complex part geometries. Materials relevant for space application shall be considered.The objectives of this activity are: Select three case studies (Propulsion, Optical, RF) and their associated requirements. Define a suitable AM end to end process able to fulfil the requirements defined. Manufacture samples and breadboards to assess the capabilities of the surface finishing scenario selected. Manufacture, treat and test the complete parts for the three case studies selected.

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