WHAT WE DO
Our mission is to be an industry leader in the development and application of metal additive manufacturing (AM) in
propulsion and aerospace technologies. We have experience in laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) for a wide range of materials (see below).
Our capabilities extend past development of established and novel materials in the AM industry and advance into mechanical design for
previously unexplored concepts due to limitations of traditional manufacturing. Our team designs the most optimal path forward by
combining our expertise in AM and traditional manufacturing, thereby reducing time, cost, and material for each project.
Additionally, our team has a well-established history with design, analysis (i.e., FEA, CFD, etc.), and testing of propulsion hardware
systems (i.e., nozzles, injectors, combustion chambers, etc.). However, we don’t let our history limit our future and take all
engineering and design challenges head on since 2006.
Our team collaborates within the space, defense, commercial, and academic industries to produce parts of high quality and optimized functionality.
QAM is a certified Scalmalloy® Manufacturing Partner with experience in building complex components.
QAM is a certified Scalmalloy® Manufacturing Partner with experience in building complex components.
Parameter development is conducted through a data-driven approach.
Parameter development is conducted through a data-driven approach.
Powder sieving prior to SLM machine loading.
Powder sieving prior to SLM machine loading.
In the background: Hot compression mounting of metallographic specimens using a Buehler SimpliMet™ 4000.
In the foreground: Ginding/polishing of metallographic specimens for optical microscopy using a Struers Tegramin-30 automatic grinder/polisher.
In the background: Hot compression mounting of metallographic specimens using a Buehler SimpliMet™ 4000.
In the foreground: Ginding/polishing of metallographic specimens for optical microscopy using a Struers Tegramin-30 automatic grinder/polisher.
Inspection of metallographic specimens between rounds of grinding/polishing.
Inspection of metallographic specimens between rounds of grinding/polishing.
Additive manufacturing is used to build specialty components for research and development.
Additive manufacturing is used to build specialty components for research and development.
QAM regularly processes advanced materials by SLM.
QAM regularly processes advanced materials by SLM.
Grain size analysis of NASA HR-1 on Keyence VHX 7000 Digital Microscope.
Grain size analysis of NASA HR-1 on Keyence VHX 7000 Digital Microscope.
First polishing step for metallographic specimens.
First polishing step for metallographic specimens.
Preparation for cold mounting of metallographic specimens.
Preparation for cold mounting of metallographic specimens.
A view of the Advanced Manufactoring lab space.
A view of the Advanced Manufactoring lab space.
The following are examples of materials our team works with.
- W-25Re, W-24Re, W-5Re
- Molybdenum
- Rhenium
- C103
Refractory
- GRCop-84
- GRCop-42
- NASA HR-1
Copper Alloys
Iron-Nickel based Superalloy
- AlSi10Mg
- AlSi12Mg
- HRL-7A77
- SiC reinforced AlSi10Mg
- Scalmalloy®
Aluminum Alloys
- Ti-6Al-4V
- Monel K-500
Titanium Alloys
Nickel Alloys
- Inconel 625
- Inconel 718
- Haynes 282
- Oxide dispersion strengthened Ni-Cr superalloys
Nickel-based Superalloys
- 316L SS
- TiC-reinforced 316L SS
- 17-4 PH SS
Stainless Steels
Click any UNDERLINED MATERIAL on the left to view more information.
Select a material on the left to view more information.
LEADERSHIP
Joseph Sims, Ph.D.
Director
Advanced Manufacturing
Dr. Sims has supported liquid propulsion system technology development including deeply throttling aerospike engineer, jet impingement-cooled combustion chamber, ohmic heating igniter, low cost high temperature thruster, ionic liquid monopropellant, ultralight weight combustion chamber, tactical propellant delivery system, and modular aerospike engine for TBM targets.
Additionally, Dr. Sims solid propulsion development experience includes double base propellant stabilization, ultralow temperature operable solid propellant, solid rocket motor fluid structure interaction analysis, tactical countermeasure attitude control motors, thruster nozzles for solid DACs, and a solid roll control system for Minuteman III. Throughout his career he has been instrumental in resolving customer challenges. His range of achievements run from participation in a major propulsion system trade study for the International Space Station to rocket test integration and data analysis to conceptually designing a new staged combustion hybrid upper stage engine and upper stage for VentureStar.
Dr. Sims was awarded his B.S. (’95), M.S. (’00), and Ph.D. (’05) degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Alabama, Huntsville. Dr. Sims has been active in submitting articles and papers to professional organizations and has been published in the Journal of Propulsion and Power and the Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. Dr. Sims has been recognized for his expertise in solid rocket motor propulsion and has presented in numerous conferences such as the North American Thermal Analysis Symposium, JANNAF propulsion meetings, and Joint Propulsion Conference for AIAA. Dr. Sims has recognized as the Young Aerospace Engineer of the Year with AIAA (2000), Martin Schilling Award with AIAA (2005), Associate Fellow with AIAA (2009), and Technical Fellow with ASRC Fellow (2015).