Partnering that Delivers

By Quickparts

Parts were primed and painted by NASA GSFC.

Overview:
Recently acquired by ATK, Swales Aerospace — an affiliate for NASA — adds enhanced systems engineering and engineering services to an already existing space launch, space exploration, smallsatellite, and spacecraft market.

ATK is an advanced weapon and space systems company intent on building a world-class aerospace and Defense Company. ATK built on their core businesses of conventional munitions and rocket motors and has grown as a leading provider of advanced weapon and space systems.

Parts were primed and painted by NASA GSFC.

ATK is the world's leading provider of hypersonic engines, rocket motors for spacecraft launch and orbit transfer, and advanced lightweight, high-strength composite materials — technologies that are critical to reaching new space frontiers.

Challenge:
Swales recently sought the help of Quickparts with a complex problem; they believed the part they had designed seemed impossible to prototype. Their part, The High Output Maximum Efficiency Resonator, or HOMER, will be used in the Biomass Monitoring Mission. When Swales first came to Quickparts their model was too large for a single piece SLA build and had several trapped volumes. The part also contained features that were too small for the standard SLA process.

Solution:
The team at Quickparts immediately responded to the challenge, pointing out the areas of concern, and offering recommendations. The part needed to be shelled to reduce the volume, and a hole had to be added to the design so that SLA resin could be removed. The part required a four piece section and bond, as it was too large for the standard 20"x20"x20" SLA build platform. One of the four pieces contained features smaller than 0.020," so a high resolution build was suggested.

Benefits:
"We had many complex parts in this project which caused a lot of uncertainty," said the mechanical engineer. "Quickparts provided us with valuable feedback that helped us save not only time but money, while putting our worries to rest with their responsiveness and quality of their model."

Information:
Quickparts
301 Perimeter Center North, Suite 500
Atlanta, GA 30346
P: 770.901.3200; F: 770.901.3236
quickparts.com