ESA Open Invitation To Tender AO8738
Open Date: 12/08/2016
Closing Date: 14/10/2016 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 16.1QM.06
Prog. Ref.: TRP
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – TRP
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Other
Technology Domains: Materials and Processes / Materials Processes / Joining
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Technical & Quality Management
Department: Product Assurance and Safety Department
Division: Materials & Components Technology Division
Contract Officer: van Hilten, Linda
Industrial Policy Measure: C3 – Activities restricted to SMEs & R&D organisations
Last Update Date: 12/08/2016
Update Reason: Summary updated

Additive Manufacturing, or 3D printing is seen as one of the key enabling technologies for Space applications. The basic principle of AM is that material is continuously added to obtain a fit-for-purpose hardware, as opposed to classical processes, where it is machined away from larger, semi-finished products. The technology is typically applied for reducing mass, lead time, or the number of parts for assemblies. The manufacture of parts for Space using AM is taking place already. However, current applications focus on secondary structures or other non-critical applications, manufactured on earth. For future missions, much more components could be manufactured using AM, also including primary structures or other mission-critical parts, even manufactured on orbit, unveiling the vast potential of AM regarding costs and performance.AM processes are complex with a number of parameters influencing the final parts quality. The effects of these parameters have to be assessed in order to lead to a standardisation of the technology. The centre will therefore help ESA to:-Benchmark the European AM supply chain-Understand/Optimize AM end-to-end manufacturing processes-Understand/Optimize machines performances, feed stock, processing parameters-Support the standardising exercise of the AM technologies for space application-Reproduce/understand/resolve eventual failures occurring on ESA projects-Provide training to the AM European Space community. The activity includes the following tasks:- Assessment of impact of aluminium and titanium alloy powder quality on geometrical accuracy, physical, and mechanical properties- Investigation of the productivity, quality, and reproducibility of various metal. Additive Manufacturing systems- Investigation of various post processing methods and their impact on mechanical properties (associated with cost).- Establishment of a design handbook for SLM and EBM process- Assess capabilities of Direct Metal Deposition(DMD) facilities. Procurement Policy: C(3) = Activity restricted to SMEs RD Entities. For additional information please go to EMITS news “Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.

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