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Ultrafast Laser System for Drilling and Inspecting Straight and Shaped Cooling Holes

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: N/A
Contract: FA8650-11-C-2102
Agency Tracking Number: F083-101-0527
Amount: $749,578.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF083-101
Solicitation Number: 2008.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2011
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-11-30
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
1855 South 57th Court
Boulder, CO -
United States
DUNS: 160015093
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Sterling Backus
 Vice President of R&D
 (303) 544-9068
 sbackus@kmlabs.com
Business Contact
 Sterling Backus
Title: Vice President of R&D
Phone: (303) 544-9068
Email: sbackus@kmlabs.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

Cooling holes in turbine fan blades is a key element in proper jet engine function. Drilling of these holes with current technology can be costly and difficult leading to (a) not enough holes, (b) holes without the proper shape, and (c) defects in the thermal barrier coating resulting from post processing. ps Lasers have been shown to make very nice shaped holes in the primary material, Hastelloy-X, while maintaining the integrety of the thermal barrier coating. However, ps pulses lack the high intensity to greatly reduce the machining time, or are incapable of mm depth scales. Femtosecond pulses do not have any of these limitations, and have enough intensity to drill to cm depths. Also due to the broadband nature of femtosecond pulses, Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be used for monitoring depth and possibly the shape of the hole drilled. BENEFIT: With rising gas prices, energy savings are critical. Better cooling holes in turbine fan blades may increase fuel economy for all military, and potentially commercial aircraft. Small gains in efficiency can have a high dollar value per year in total fuel consumption. This work may also bring a new capability to manufacturing in general by using the laser that cuts to monitor the surface as the feature is being made. This capability may have wide application to many different fields.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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