These advances are expected to increase the output of the system and will demonstrate high volume production feasibility. The new contract brings the total amount of project funding to approximately $1.5m.
The AFRL system and its enhancements will remain housed at the thermal and electrochemical branch-propulsion directorate energy/power/thermal division at the Wright-Patterson air force base. The system will continue to be used to develop deposition processes for SOFCs.
Dave Ramahi, president and CEO of Optomec, said: “Optomec is proud to be working closely with the AFRL team, a recognized leader in the field of SOFC development. Their guidance has provided a critical understanding of the needs of this industry, and we are confident that the high volume enhancements being developed under this contract will meet with strong demand from the fuel cell and other industries.”
Optomec is a provider of additive manufacturing systems for applications in photovoltaic, electronics, biomedical, and aerospace and defense markets. These systems utilize Optomec’s proprietary aerosol jet and LENS powder-metal fabrication technology.
