On the Emergence of An Integrated Titanium Processing Facility

The Quad City Manufacturing Lab, a 501(c)3 organization, has as a mandate not only for the development and maturation of state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies but also their transition to regional partners, specifically Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). Importantly, the activities of QCML under this program are well aligned with those identified as critical for not only RIA but the larger DoD community. In the main, these efforts are focused on the improvement of legacy systems or development and production of new systems that exploit the advantages afforded by advanced materials. Many of these efforts focus on advantages offered by the attractive combination of high-strength and reduced weight offered by, specifically, titanium alloys and advanced composites. While QCML is focused on the provision of a manufacturing readiness that will allow RIA and the greater region to produce advanced materials that achieve/surpass the required design properties, an equally important element of the project is the development of methods that reduce costs – often seen as the primary challenge when considering a broader use of titanium in many economic sectors. Thus, QCML will continue to pursue two primary activities, namely the development of novel materials and processes for the manufacture of superior lightweight equipment and the demonstration (via prototyping) of the state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies. The near-term programs focus on the development and transfer of technologies for near-net shape manufacturing, including, specifically, additive powder based approaches, HIP consolidation, and spark plasma sintering. The progress associated with the start-up of this new organization will be discussed. The equipment capabilities will be presented, and opportunities for public-private partnerships will be given.