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Application Additions to the Long Range Ball Bar for Multi-axis Machine Capability Analysis

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Logistics Agency
Contract: W9113M-09-C-0040
Agency Tracking Number: L083-001-0017
Amount: $99,547.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: DLA08-001
Solicitation Number: 2008.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2008
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-02-05
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-02-05
Small Business Information
332 Canonchet Road PO Box 70
Rockville, RI 02873
United States
DUNS: 183448257
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Robert Callaghan
 President/Chief Engineer
 (401) 539-8510
 bcallaghan@iqlinc.com
Business Contact
 Robert Callaghan
Title: President/Chief Engineer
Phone: (401) 539-8510
Email: bcallaghan@iqlinc.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Testing of machine tools has been evolving for nearly 100 years. The advent of low cost computer data analysis, control and communication has allowed the design, manufacture and inspection of complex contoured surfaces. The need to ever decrease the tolerances has led to the development of machine tools which can no longer be tested with these old methods. These machines must be evaluated within their whole work volume, not just along single axes. A further development has been the rapidly growing use of e-commerce. New terms such as “NCM” (Network Centric Manufacturing) and “PLM” (Product Lifecycle Management) have been coined to describe the methods being used to produce products using the “Global Economy”. Current practice limits the assessment of vendor machine performance and capability until after the first delivery of new product. These facts have produced a need to develop lower cost equipment and methods to rapidly assess the capability of new and old machine tools within their work volume. Independent Quality Labs, Inc. (IQL) has developed and built a Long Range Ball Bar capable of capturing machine position data within the work volume.These mechanical developments need to be accompanied by software Application Additions to keep pace with these advancements.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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