The Barnes Global Advisors nabs contract to help advance additive manufacturing technologies

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA), an independent advanced manufacturing engineering consultancy headquartered in Pittsburgh, recently signed a new contract in which it will seek industry input to help shape future investments by the Air Force Research Laboratory in metal additive manufacturing.

TBGA’s work with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), through a contract with ARCTOS Technology Solutions LLC, initiates the research lab’s QUalification of Additive Structures for Aerospace Requirements (QUASAR) program, which aims to produce high-performance components for aerospace vehicles.

QUASAR will accomplish this through the maturation of qualification and certification activities for metallic articles designed, developed, and fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM), according to a July 9 statement released by TBGA.

“TBGA is excited to continue supporting AFRL’s effort to mature and realize the benefits of AM technologies,” said Andy Davis, TBGA’s director of government & business development. “The QUASAR program is designed to understand the state of the art in qualification and certification, ultimately driving at identifying research gaps the Air Force can then close.

“It is a perfect example of the government and industry working together to solve a hard problem,” Davis said.

Specifically, insights gained from the TBGA survey will shape AFRL’s applied research and advanced technology development strategy and future investments, the consultancy said.

“There is a clear need to better define the existing technical gaps related to implementation of additive manufacturing technologies in order to start realizing the benefits it offers to our warfighters,” said Mark Benedict, senior scientist for convergent manufacturing at AFRL. “Activities like QUASAR are key opportunities for experts across the industry to help identify these gaps and support advancing AM technologies.”

TBGA has already developed a questionnaire to gain insights from industry experts and will assess the feedback it receives to identify key areas of development that could be used to shape AFRL’s science and technology program.

In fact, TBGA recently collected feedback from industry stakeholders using the questionnaire during last month’s RAPID + TCT 2024, North America’s Largest Additive Manufacturing & Industrial 3D-Printing Event, held in Los Angeles.

“ARCTOS is thrilled to team with The Barnes Global Advisors on this critical first step to understand the current qualification and certification landscape for metal AM,” said ARCTOS Director of Structures and Materials Matt Snyder.

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