X-Bow Launch Systems Inc.

New Mexico Tech University Research Park Corporation

Matthew Hinton

Michael McPherson

Jason Hundley

Mark Kaufman

Jillian Marsh

Dane Fradenburg

Maureen Gannon

Chelsey Hargather

Michael Hargather

Paul Fuierer

A fuel grain for a rocket, the fuel grain having a plurality of layers of fuel grain material, each layer comprising a plurality of concentric circular structures of different diameter fused together to form a central opening therein, wherein the fuel grain material comprises an ignitable substance. The plurality of layers are stacked and joined securely to form a cylindrical fuel grain with the central opening of each one of the plurality of layers aligned to form a combustion unit extending axially through the fuel grain and bounded by a combustion surface, and wherein the fuel grain is configured to permit mixing of heterogenous materials to enhance thrust performance.

3D-printed rocket fuel grains, rocket engines and an additive manufacturing process

A method of making a fuel grain for use in a rocket motor, the method comprising blending a first energetic nanoscale metallic compound and a second compound suitable to form a feedstock material for use in an additive manufacturing apparatus, the additive manufacturing apparatus operatively connected to a computing system, that provides additive manufacturing printing instructions to the additive manufacturing apparatus, permitting construction of an autonomously designed and optimized rocket fuel grain section; wherein the stochastic deposition simulation-assisted fuel grain geometries further comprise a plurality of agglutinated layers of solidified fuel grain compound, each layer of the plurality of layers comprising a plurality of blended and radially displaced beads of different radii, said radial displacement optionally optimized via competitive simulation programs, and wherein the system continuously mixes constituent materials in an inline/static mixer, with viscosity controlled via particle size variations, and material is deposited in a controlled atmosphere or vacuum.

Additively manufactured rocket fuel grains and competitive simulation of the same

The present disclosure describes a system and method of depositing ceramic or ceramic composite coatings on the inside surface area of a tubular shape. The system and method described herein can provide an interior coating for tubes and pipes to provide wear resistance, abrasion resistance, and anti-scaling effects.

Aerosol method for coating

Growing community of inventors

Socorro, NM, United States of America

Matthew Hinton