# Licensing Opportunity: Limited Center Constraint of Optimal Thickness Build Substrates for Additive Manufacturing Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/20240911e - Solicitation number: 2024-09-11_E - Notice type: Special notice - Status: Closed. Deadline was October 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT - Department: Department of Energy - Contracting office: ORNL Ut-Battelle LLC-DOE Contractor (899042) - Place of performance: Oak Ridge, Tennessee - County: Anderson County (FIPS 47001). https://abierto.us/counties/anderson-county-tn-47001 - City: Oak Ridge. https://abierto.us/cities/oak-ridge-tn-4755120 - First posted: September 11, 2024 - Last posted: September 11, 2024 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ee97021bc0974e0e8c755542d915c874/view ## Description **Invention Reference Number:** 202405604 Materials produced via additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, can experience significant residual stress, distortion and cracking, negatively impacting the manufacturing process. The substrate, a base that supports the deposition of materials for printing, has a large impact on these variables. The substrate design and how it is clamped to the machine table can influence these problems. This technology largely solves that problem by using modeling and simulation to optimize the design of the substrate along with intentionally designed fixturing to balance all those factors. Description In additive manufacturing, the selection of substrate material and thickness, along with how the substrate is clamped to the machine table, greatly influences the extent to which problems are encountered. This invention is a method of substrate design and fixturing that achieves a balance of the critical objectives: 1) Protect the machine table, 2) Prevent the part from cracking, and 3) Ensure that after maximum distortion of the substrate and printed part is experienced, the final machined part still resides inside the printed preform. The solution is a substrate design that is tuned through modeling and simulation and) that is affixed in a limited-constraint configuration, which allows for a balance of all objectives. The thickness may be tuned for each individual geometry to be printed. Benefits Allows substrate to distort a manageable amount, while completely isolating the machine table from residual stress and distortion Protects machine table Prevents the part from cracking Ensures substrate thickness is appropriate Ensures that even after maximum distortion, machined part still resides inside the printed preform Can be any geometry Hybrid substrates can be used No competing technologies Applications and Industries Any additive manufacturing process Casting and forging replacement parts Structural aircraft components Tool-and-die products for automotive and other industries Molds for composites Contact To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051. ## Publications - September 11, 2024: Special notice, due October 26, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT. Notice ee97021bc0974e0e8c755542d915c874. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ee97021bc0974e0e8c755542d915c874/view ## Points of contact - Alex DeTrana, detranaag@ornl.gov, 8653410423 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/20240911e.