Additive Manufacturing Process for Magnetic Shielding

Additive manufacturing of superconducting magnetic shields offers the ability to improve instrumentation sensitivity, reduce weight, and lower cost for space exploration. SkyVision Sciences proposes a method for 3D printing of superconducting metals/alloys. In the Phase I effort niobium and niobium-tin superconductors will be fabricated using the proposed method. These materials will be characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Fabricated parts will be tested for dimensional accuracy, defects, and their critical temperature. A manufacturing cost assessment will be made. A potential Phase II effort will look to further optimize the method, demonstrate the production of superconducting magnetic shield with complex designs, and produce shields for evaluation by NASA. The study of the universe involves the use of highly sensitive instrumentation such as magnetometers, transition edge sensors, and bolometers to collect data. These instruments require electromagnetic shielding to decrease the background noise, increase the sensitivity and thereby operate effectively. Superconductors provide the highest shielding capability. Current superconductor shielding materials, however, are characterized by a relatively high weight and the inflexibility to adapt to more complex geometries, limiting technology advancement towards more complex space-borne systems. SkyVision is proposing to develop a unique additive printing method for forming superconducting magnetic shields. The advantage of this process is that the superconductor can be deposited under ambient conditions, is economical, and will allow for easy fabrication of complex designs.

There are many applications for magnetic shielding on NASA missions. In general, the proposed shielding would benefit those missions depending upon sensitive measurements including the use of magnetometers, bolometers, transition edge sensors, and others. As an examples, missions such as LUVOIR, Lynx x-ray observatory, HabEx, and the Orbital space telescope require extremely low levels of noise to detect the expected low signal levels from their observations. Superconducting shielding, customized for these applications, can improve signal quality, lower cost, and reduce spacecraft weight. Superconducting shielding finds application in medical diagnostics (e.g. MRI), high energy physics, electric power generation, and in laboratory instrumentation (e.g. NMR).

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.