TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER LICENSING OPPORTUNITY: Conventional friction stir extrusion machine (MFS-TOPS-126)

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: NASA Marshall Space Flight Center has developed a new small-scale metal extrusion tool, called a conventional friction stir extrusion (C-FSE) machine that may be attached or added-on to a conventional friction stir welding (C-FSW) system. The C-FSE machine uses the heat generation and plastic deformation processes underpinning C-FSW to perform metal extrusion instead of metal joining. The new tool can perform small-batch extrusion runs with custom geometries that can be easily changed by replacing the modular extrusion block face plate. Compared to traditional metal extrusion processes, large billets of metal do not have to be preheated prior to the extrusion for the C-FSE machine as raw metal rods can be fed directly into the extrusion block, saving significant tooling and energy costs. The C-FSE machine can work with any metal alloy that is amenable to FSW processes, including aluminum alloys and other lightweight or exotic alloys.