US Air Force RSO expands A6061-RAM2 testing agreement with Elementum 3D
The United States Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) recently expanded its material characterisation agreement with Elementum 3D, based in Thornton, Colorado. The agreement is focused on specification, dataset generation, and application testing of A6061-RAM2 for Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing.
As part of the project, Elementum 3D is developing a full dataset for A6061-RAM2 T6 — based in MMPDS S-basis guidelines — as well as performing additional testing to consider the impact of wall thickness, as-built surfaces, and Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) on material properties and applications.
The combination of material property characterisation and application studies, including non-destructive testing evaluation and a prototype part study, will provide the RSO with the information they need to start qualifying parts out of A6061-RAM2 on EOS M290 Additive Manufacturing machines used for this effort.
This robust material dataset, material and process specification, and application testing is intended to enable the use of aerospace-grade aluminium and Additive Manufacturing to support the US Air Force’s life cycle management and sustainment.
