This restart and expansion of the FY17 effort seeks to refine the team's capability to 3D print a variety of sensors, wire connectors, and related devices at micron scale. Previous efforts demonstrated feasibility, but the techniques still require significant refinement in order to demonstrate repeatability. For FY18 the focus will be on validating the survivability of printed flexible readout strips during assembly and testing, and printing conformal conductive (and superconductive) traces over large-area assemblies and three-dimensional shapes. This effort supports such flight programs as PRAxyS and the Next Generation of X-ray Polarimeter (NGxP). For example, the current SAO for the NGxT detector is at a pitch of 121 micron. This direct write technology should reduce the pitch to 60 micros, thus increasing sensitivity by 3x. The FY18 effort will also investigate printing of Al superconducting inks. A key goal is 3D printing of the sensor assemblies by the end of the FY.
More »This project seeks to focus on the need for more dense and compact electronic and detector assemblies. This is addressed through the application of direct-write additive manufacturing of electronic circuitry. As this is a new technology, development of reliable processes which insure repeatable results in fabrication is a significant issue, which is addressed via this CIF.
More »Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
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Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) | Lead Organization | NASA Center | Greenbelt, Maryland |
Army Research Lab (ARL) | Supporting Organization | Other US Government | Adelphi, Maryland |
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus (GA Tech) | Supporting Organization | Academia | Atlanta, Georgia |
Laboratory for Physical Sciences | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) | Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Huntsville, Alabama |
NanoDirect LLC | Supporting Organization | Industry | Baltimore, Maryland |
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) | Supporting Organization | Other US Government | Boulder, Colorado |
Optomec Design Co | Supporting Organization | Industry | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Quest Integrated, LLC | Supporting Organization |
Industry
Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB)
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Kent, Washington |
Raytheon Company | Supporting Organization | Industry | Arlington, Virginia |
Sun Chemical | Supporting Organization | Industry | Parsippany, New Jersey |
United Technologies Research Center | Supporting Organization | Industry | East Harford, Not Applicable |
University of Delaware | Supporting Organization | Academia | Newark, Delaware |
University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Supporting Organization | Academia | Lowell, Massachusetts |