Stay current on the latest from America Makes.*
*Submission is for announcements only and does not include the bi-weekly members-only newsletter, AM Digest.
Comparison of original phased array ultrasonic transducer with new EWI designed ultrasonic transducer, showing improvement in inspectability with the new probe.
This project seeks to develop a new phased array ultrasonic transducer to improve inspection capability of microstructurally complex electron beam direct energy deposit (EB-DED) components and improve the EB-DED process to reduce attenuation.
The electron beam directed energy deposition (EB-DED) process has the potential to lower acquisition costs by up to 60% and reduce lead times by up to 80% for conventional die forgings. A complex microstructure that develops during the EB-DED process and subsequent heat treatment, however, reduces ultrasonic inspection limits by 66%, which could negate a large portion of the cost and lead time benefits enabled by additive manufacturing (AM). Without a solution to this challenge, radiography as the principal inspection method for these components would increase the inspection burden and the flow time for part inspection.
This project is directed to the implementation of EB-DED additive manufacturing for structural components on the F-35 for Lockheed Martin and Sciaky Inc. by defining process changes to refine the beta-annealed (BA) microstructure in the final parts, and by addressing the effects of the complex microstructure on ultrasonic inspection by developing an improved phased array ultrasonic transducer, designed specifically for fusion based metal AM processes and the resultant columnar microstructures characteristic of these processes.
EWI, with support from Lockheed Martin and Sciaky Inc. worked to:
EWI developed best practices for the EB-DED process, allowing a reduction in the prior beta grain aspect ratio in the BA condition from 10.2 to 2.7, and, with the original phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) probe, reduced in-sample attenuation variation in the BA condition from 9.7 to 3.4 dB as well as detected 100% of #3 FBHs in the BA condition in a thickness of 76 mm. In the baseline, only 1 of 3 FBHs could be detected.
With both the new MPA-UT probe and improved process, the project reduced attenuation range in BA and BA + HIP to be between 3 to 4.5 dB and detected 100% of #3 FBHs in any process condition including the baseline at a depth of ≤88.9 mm. This exceeded the project goal of detection of 76.2 mm (3.0 in.) deep FBHs. EB-DED process changes improved the in-sample ultrasonic attenuation variation by as much as 18 dB.