When the new additive research facility at the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center Research & Development (OMIC R&D) opens in Scappoose, Oregon, the facility will acquire a hot isostatic press. Operating at a temperature of 2550°F (1400°C) and a pressure of up to 30,000 psi (2070 bar), the new press will give OMIC researchers the ability to study densification of metals as well as how HPHT can modify the grain structure to enhance the mechanical properties of additively manufactured parts.
Overseen by Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech), a public polytechnic university, OMIC R&D is a collaborative effort that brings together industry and higher education with government support to conduct applied research and advanced technical training. Its mission is to increase industrial competitiveness by developing new tools and techniques to address today’s manufacturing challenges, particularly in the aerospace and defense, transportation, and metals sectors.
The Quintus Technologies HIP, a QIH 48 M URC® press, will allow new research into 3D printing technology and optimized material properties. The press model is equipped with Uniform Rapid Cooling, URC®, the proprietary Quintus feature that combines HIP and heat treatment in a single process. Accelerated cooling under pressure minimizes thermal distortion and improves material properties. The QIH 48 also has a hot zone of 14.8 inches (375 mm) in diameter and 47.2 inches (1200 mm) in height.
“For OMIC R&D to fulfill our mission, we must have world-class cutting-edge capabilities to support our applied research & development projects. We accomplish this by partnering with some of the best companies in the world in their respective fields and identifying and utilizing their unique technologies and expertise. Our solutions can be implemented by regional, national, and international partners to increase their competitiveness,” says Craig Campbell, executive director at OMIC. “We chose Quintus as a partner because the company is continually innovating, and developing new processes such as High Pressure Heat Treatment, or HPHT.”
The press will be housed in OMIC’s new 30,000-square-foot additive manufacturing innovation center in Scappoose, approximately 20 miles north of Portland. Scheduled for ground-breaking in late 2021 and occupancy in 2022, the facility will be adjacent to the Portland Community College/OMIC Training Center, which serves students in machining, fabrication, and mechatronics.
“Today’s globally competitive manufacturing industry demands rapid innovations in advanced manufacturing technologies to produce complex, high-performance products at low cost,” observes Dr. Mostafa Saber, associate professor of Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology at Oregon Tech. “To conduct world-class, competitive research on new high-performance metal alloys, long-lasting tools, and rapid production of complex metal structures, especially in additive manufacturing, materials densification plays a pivotal role. And that is where the advanced generation of hot isostatic pressing offers the solution. We are very excited to leverage the advantageous features offered by Quintus Technologies soon at OMIC R&D.”
