Jul 27 2017
COSM Advanced Manufacturing Systems LLC has been chosen to design an electron beam system for an in-space autonomous assembly application. The company’s work will be funded by a contract from the Langley Research Center of NASA in partnership with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Orbital ATK and the Glenn Research Center of NASA.
Igor Zh./ Shutterstock.com
COSM will join a group of companies in a public-private partnership to set up a "Commercial Infrastructure for Robotic Assembly and Services" (CIRAS) in space under NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD). The CIRAS program is dedicated to the advancement of key technologies for in-orbit manufacturing and assembly of huge space structures that will assist the agency meet its goals for human and robotic exploration of the solar system.
The assembly and fabrication of structures in space under autonomous robotic control, is of course extremely challenging. Our effort focuses on development of the electron gun and optics and beam control and metrology systems for this application. We are excited and proud of the opportunity to bring our unique expertise to this project.
Richard Comunale, Founder and President of COSM
This effort builds on COSM's partnership with NASA Langley Research Center's Electron Beam Free Form Fabrication (EBF3) program, which employs focused electron beams to perform additive manufacturing (3D printing) metals critical to the aerospace and space industry, including titanium, Inconel and aluminum.
Under this partnership, COSM has designed technology possible for an innovative Electron Beam 3D metal printing system. This new system will provide in-situ metrology and adaptive process control for end users in large commercial, aerospace and space applications.