The First Test Lab Dedicated to Additive Manufacturing
SPECIALIZING IN THE VALIDATION, QUALIFICATION AND CERTIFICATION OF
SPACE FLIGHT MATERIAL, LAUNCH VEHICLES AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES
Launch Sooner
ASTRO serves as a partner for aerospace primes and advanced space companies contributing to the incorporation of advanced materials and intelligent engineering into complex flight hardware.
Along with our customer base, we work hand-in-hand with the industry’s raw material providers, international standards developers and AM research institutes to engage in the meticulous analysis of the properties of novel super alloys and the innovative technologies that fabricate with them. Throughout this process, we support progress in AM development and production methodologies through qualification and certification pathways towards the industrialization and democratization of additive.
NOBODY WANTS TO FALL BACK TO EARTH
With a rich legacy in the testing of flight hardware, our team has played a pivotal role in risk mitigation and prevention following catastrophic events in aerospace history.
From breaking landing legs on rockets and wheels on Martian rovers, to dismantling foam insulation on the Space Shuttle and destroying lunar components, our experience in failure analysis spans over three decades.
We firmly believe that this history of navigating orbital challenges has uniquely positioned us with a comprehensive understanding of acceptance criteria through testing the physical properties of materials under both dynamic and static forces. With a focus on additive manufacturing, we have paired our practices with further chemical and metallurgical analysis to create a full scope approach to conformance.
Our Additive Research
Effects of defects in additive manufactured components
Detection of Spherical and Metallurgical Micropores in Gas Atomized Powder Particles
Thermal Gradient Variables on the Generation of Residual Stress
Initial Characterization to substantiate material properties and performance capabilities
Performance of Process Parameter Optimization Survey Builds
Impact of Surface Roughness on Crack Propagation
Porosity-Induced Stress Intensification from Laser Zones
Material Qualification and Parameter Development for Super Alloy Compositions
Heat Treatment & Hot Isostatic Press Variables on Mechanical Properties
Achieving Repeatable Mechanical Results from Multiple Lots on Production by LPBF
Development of SN Curves in Fatigue Data from Varying Process Parameters
Process Monitoring and Control in Serial Test Methods
Weld Strength on Additively Manufactured Components (DED & LPBF)
Fatigue Lifecycle of Laminated Orthotropic Structures
Improvement of Mechanical Properties on As-Printed vs Machined Specimens
Development of Specification for Design Allowables on Spaceflight Hardware
Topographic Contrast and Backscatter Identification with Scanning Electron Microscope
Upper Load, Lower Load, PQ and Pmax vs Grain Direction in Printing
Establishing LCF Frequency Strategy through Fractography
Print Parameter Evaluation due to Variable Laser Power, Speed and Gas Flow
Effects of Recyclability of Raw Material on Mechanical Properties
Epitaxy and Microstructure Evolution of Additive Super Alloys
Keyholing and Microcracking on AlSi10Mg specimens with T6 Heat Treatment
Wrought vs LPBF Thermal Properties of L605 during Elevated Tensile Testing
Gas Flow Optimization and Behavioral Characteristics in Chamber
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT
LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion)
SLS (Selective Laser Sintering)
SLM (Selective Laser Melting)
DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering)
EBM (Electron Beam Melting)
Aluminum
AlSi10Mg
Scalmalloy
Al-6061
Al-7075
AlSi7Mg (F357)
A6061-RAM2
Nickel
Inco625
Inco718
H-X
ABD900
L-605 / Haynes 25
Haynes 282
M-M509
Iron
Invar
FeNi
Stainless Steel
SS310
SS316
SS17-4
SS15-5
Titanium
Ti Grade 2, 5, 23
TiAl6V4
Copper
GRCop-42
CuCrZr
C18150
Refractory
Tantalum
Niobium
Tungsten
Testing Services
We focus on the two most favored methods of mechanical testing : Tensile + Fatigue
We can perform Tensile & Fatigue tests in Environmental Test Chambers for Cryogenic and Elevated Temperatures
Our fleet of testing machines consist of Instron and MTS stands with varying capabilities.
We have the option of various load cells and increasing pound-force to meet hundreds of specimen testing requirements
-
Tensile testing is used to determine the behavior of a sample while an axial stretching load is applied. Tensile testing is used to determine the maximum load (tensile strength) that a material can withstand.
Our tensile testing machines utilize state-of-the-art digital instrumentation to report the ultimate tensile strength, maximum elongation, and reduction of the area of a material. Based on your requirements, testing results may include:
Maximum Load, Deflection and Work
Stress and Strain
Young's Modulus: elastic limit, yield point, yield strength and elongation
Poisson's Ration: lateral strain, longitudinal strain
-
Fatigue testing is used to characterize material properties behavior during cycling loading. It measures how cyclic forces will affect a product or material over time, using varying loads, speeds and environmental conditions to create predictive patterns for material behavior. Based on your requirements, results show a fatigue strength curve, which demonstrates the material’s resistance to cyclic loading over varying stress levels.
Our fatigue testing capabilities include:
Low Cycle Fatigue (LCF)
High Cycle Fatigue (HCF)
Room & Elevated Temperature
-
We can perform Tensile & Fatigue tests in Environmental Test Chambers for Cryogenic and Elevated Temperatures
-
Tension/Compression
Shear Properties
Fracture Toughness
Impact Testing (Charpy, IZOD)
Universal Hardness (Rockwell, Brinell)
Creep and Stress Rupture
Bend Testing
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion
-
We strive to help our customers accurately evaluate their product's design and choice of material. Due to this demand, we have metallurgical analysis capabilities to help customers evaluate a product during its design and development phase, with the aim of production.
METALLURGY SERVICES :
Particle Size Distribution (PSD), particle morphology, aspect ratio, etc. of a powder sample
Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen content of powder sample and printed coupons
Carbon and Sulfur content of a powder sample and printed coupons
Flowability of a powder sample
Apparent density measurement of a powder sample
Tap density measurement of a powder sample
Microstructure, texture, and grain size of powder and printed specimens (SEM)
Chemical composition of the powder and printed coupons (EDS)
Cutting, mounting, polishing, etching specimens for metallurgical analysis
METALLURGY
We strive to help our customers accurately evaluate their product's design and choice of material. Due to this demand, we have metallurgical analysis capabilities to help customers evaluate a product during its design and development phase, with the aim of production.
-
Particle Size Distribution (PSD), particle morphology, aspect ratio, etc. of a powder sample
Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen content of powder sample and printed coupons
Carbon and Sulfur content of a powder sample and printed coupons
Flowability of a powder sample
Apparent density measurement of a powder sample
Tap density measurement of a powder sample
Microstructure, texture, and grain size of powder and printed specimens (SEM)
Chemical composition of the powder and printed coupons (EDS)
Cutting, mounting, polishing, etching specimens for metallurgical analysis
SPECIMEN PREPARATION
We have developed a proprietary machining solution with the markets leading specimen preparation equipment to ensure speed and precision. We machine to ASTM, ISO, DIN, JIS, and other global standards. We also perform surface finish operations and verify dimensional symmetry before testing.
-
CNC MILLING
CNC LATHE
WIRE EDM, BANDSAW, WATERJET
-
Custom Fixtures for specialty specimen
Custom Grips for specialty testing
Our processes are AS9100 certified.
OUR FACILITY IS ISO 17025 COMPLIANT.
ASTRO’S Quality experts have been auditing suppliers across the country against QMS standards for nearly four decades, led over 2,000 audits across the globe, and have implemented robust studies from the standardization of processes throughout ASTRO. This has assured an increase in efficiency, a strong competitive edge and a reduction of operational expenditure so that we can keep meeting and exceeding customer expectations.