NASA SBIR SUCCESS STORY  Marshall Space Flight Center  
1992 Phase II 

High Pressure and Temperature Fused Deposition System 

Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.  

Tucson, AZ 
 

INNOVATION 
A high pressure fused deposition system compatible with numerous engineering polymers
ACR High Pressure Retrofit 3D Modeler SFF System
ACR High Pressure Retrofit 3D Modeler
SFF System
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ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
    • High pressure and temperature fused deposition was developed  with several important materials systems including polyaryletherketone (PEEK), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA),   polycarbonate (Lexan), and thermoplastic polyurethane   (Pellethane) 
    • ACR designed rapid prototyping system (known as Extrusion Freeform Fabrication) using solid feedstock, can extrude and form RP shaped components, using solid powders and/or chopped fibers as fillers to the thermoplastic feedstock
COMMERCIALIZATION 
    • ACR’s first NASA Phase I SBIR, awarded in 1991, initiated a   commercial relationship which has generated over $8 million in sales
    • ACR has a joint venture with Stratasys, Inc, to commercialize the High Pressure Retrofit 3D Modeler SFF System
    • ACR was a recipient of the Small Business Administration’s annual Tibbetts Award, which recognizes companies for being “models of excellence"
GOVERNMENT/SCIENCE APPLICATIONS 
    • Rapid prototyping for producing functional polymer matrix composition components
    • Biomedical prosthesis will be a near term application
    • ACR has created a Commercial Service Bureau featuring the High Pressure SFF System
For more information about this firm, please send e-mail to company representative 

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