AI
Sunday, September 09, 2012 7:06:52 PM
Some more info on this device:
It's a slider from the ARDEC MEMS S&A device currently in development by the US Army. The following site explains what it is being developed for as well as some of the extreme environments it has to hold up against and the tests it has to go through to meet specs:
http://144.206.159.178/ft/CONF/16411263/16411273.pdf
Here is an excerpt:
3. ARDEC S&A DEVICE
3.1 MEMS S&A
The ARDEC MEMS-based mechanical Safety and Arming (S&A) Device (Figures 1& 2), is being developed by the
Army, with MEMS as the enabling technology for radical miniaturization, cost reduction, and improved reliability and
safety. The ARDEC S&A is being engineered for for use in 20mm to 40mm medium caliber high-explosive air-burst
(HEAB) applications and is also planned for transition into 105mm and 155mm artillery fuzes, as well as other
applications. Advantages of the MEMS S&A over conventional mechanical S&A technologies include:
• Reduced cost
• Reduced size
• Improved safety
• Potential “in situ” fabrication with fuze circuit
• “Frangible” design for non-lethal applications
• Commonality across multiple high-g applications
• Reduced lead-containing components
• Increased lethality (device size allows for large warhead)
• Soldier Survivability (increased safety reduces fatal accidents)
Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6884 68840C-3
Unlike many standard MEMS devices, the ARDEC S&A is not composed of silicon, but rather metallic materials
(Figure 3). The primary materials of construction chosen were nickel and stainless steel. These materials were
selected for ductility to accommodate the high g-forces to which the S&A will be exposed during gun launch. One
concern resulting from material selection was material degradation/corrosion effects, even though the device will be
sealed in a projectile during normal operation and storage.
From the following site, it appears that ATK is highly involved in the project, with a performance end date listed as October 30 of this year:
http://www.nwec-dotc.org/docs/abstracts_033112.pdf
Number: 1101 INIT 220
Title: MEMS Fuze S&A Component Advancement
Prime: Alliant Techsystems
Sponsor: PM-CAS
Objective/s: To develop components that will directly have a cost reduction or risk reduction impact on the ARDEC
Micro Electro-mechanical Systems Safety and Arming Device (MEMS S&A) manufacturing project. The
contractor will work closely with the ARDEC MEMS team to establish a high volume MEMS S&A assembly
capability using these alternative components. The contractor will work with vendors to demonstrate
prototype manufacturing processes and alternative materials suitable for integration into initial
production after validation.
Performance End Date: 30-Oct-12
Previous prototypes have been made of Nickel and Steel, but because of problems with corrosion, they are looking into other materials like Liquidmetal.
Several different manufacturing processes have also been looked into, but they are still looking for other alternatives to save on cost:
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a481848.pdf
Amish Desai of Tanner Research and Jan Schroers of Yale have been working on a thermoplastic forming technique for this (as well as for other applications):
http://www.nnin.org/doc/snmr10/Schroers_Feb10.pdf
http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/326359
Mass Fabricating S&A with Bulk Metallic Glass: Micro-Components with Nano-scale Tolerance
Abstract:
In Phase I Tanner Research has already demonstrated a state of the art technology suitable for facilitating the mass fabrication of metallic components used in high g gun-launched MEMS-based S&A devices. The emerging need for micro-scale S&A devices to complement the smart fuzing in modern munitions is jeopardized by high implementation cost of the metallic components able to survive the harsh gun-launch environment. The impact of cost reduction and/or cost avoidance on implementing critical munitions' designs actually starts with the S&A device. Tanner Research is proposing as a primary objective to further develop and refine the micro to nano scale manufacturing techniques required to establish a process for extremely high-rate, low-cost manufacture of micro-scale components needed for use in the Army's MEMS safe and arm device. We envision the Phase II program to be an opportunity to develop a batch scale forming process to mass fabricate metallic sliders and parts.
It's a slider from the ARDEC MEMS S&A device currently in development by the US Army. The following site explains what it is being developed for as well as some of the extreme environments it has to hold up against and the tests it has to go through to meet specs:
http://144.206.159.178/ft/CONF/16411263/16411273.pdf
Here is an excerpt:
3. ARDEC S&A DEVICE
3.1 MEMS S&A
The ARDEC MEMS-based mechanical Safety and Arming (S&A) Device (Figures 1& 2), is being developed by the
Army, with MEMS as the enabling technology for radical miniaturization, cost reduction, and improved reliability and
safety. The ARDEC S&A is being engineered for for use in 20mm to 40mm medium caliber high-explosive air-burst
(HEAB) applications and is also planned for transition into 105mm and 155mm artillery fuzes, as well as other
applications. Advantages of the MEMS S&A over conventional mechanical S&A technologies include:
• Reduced cost
• Reduced size
• Improved safety
• Potential “in situ” fabrication with fuze circuit
• “Frangible” design for non-lethal applications
• Commonality across multiple high-g applications
• Reduced lead-containing components
• Increased lethality (device size allows for large warhead)
• Soldier Survivability (increased safety reduces fatal accidents)
Proc. of SPIE Vol. 6884 68840C-3
Unlike many standard MEMS devices, the ARDEC S&A is not composed of silicon, but rather metallic materials
(Figure 3). The primary materials of construction chosen were nickel and stainless steel. These materials were
selected for ductility to accommodate the high g-forces to which the S&A will be exposed during gun launch. One
concern resulting from material selection was material degradation/corrosion effects, even though the device will be
sealed in a projectile during normal operation and storage.
From the following site, it appears that ATK is highly involved in the project, with a performance end date listed as October 30 of this year:
http://www.nwec-dotc.org/docs/abstracts_033112.pdf
Number: 1101 INIT 220
Title: MEMS Fuze S&A Component Advancement
Prime: Alliant Techsystems
Sponsor: PM-CAS
Objective/s: To develop components that will directly have a cost reduction or risk reduction impact on the ARDEC
Micro Electro-mechanical Systems Safety and Arming Device (MEMS S&A) manufacturing project. The
contractor will work closely with the ARDEC MEMS team to establish a high volume MEMS S&A assembly
capability using these alternative components. The contractor will work with vendors to demonstrate
prototype manufacturing processes and alternative materials suitable for integration into initial
production after validation.
Performance End Date: 30-Oct-12
Previous prototypes have been made of Nickel and Steel, but because of problems with corrosion, they are looking into other materials like Liquidmetal.
Several different manufacturing processes have also been looked into, but they are still looking for other alternatives to save on cost:
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a481848.pdf
Amish Desai of Tanner Research and Jan Schroers of Yale have been working on a thermoplastic forming technique for this (as well as for other applications):
http://www.nnin.org/doc/snmr10/Schroers_Feb10.pdf
http://www.sbir.gov/sbirsearch/detail/326359
Mass Fabricating S&A with Bulk Metallic Glass: Micro-Components with Nano-scale Tolerance
Abstract:
In Phase I Tanner Research has already demonstrated a state of the art technology suitable for facilitating the mass fabrication of metallic components used in high g gun-launched MEMS-based S&A devices. The emerging need for micro-scale S&A devices to complement the smart fuzing in modern munitions is jeopardized by high implementation cost of the metallic components able to survive the harsh gun-launch environment. The impact of cost reduction and/or cost avoidance on implementing critical munitions' designs actually starts with the S&A device. Tanner Research is proposing as a primary objective to further develop and refine the micro to nano scale manufacturing techniques required to establish a process for extremely high-rate, low-cost manufacture of micro-scale components needed for use in the Army's MEMS safe and arm device. We envision the Phase II program to be an opportunity to develop a batch scale forming process to mass fabricate metallic sliders and parts.
