Advanced materials, such as ceramics, superalloys, and ceramic matrix composites are enabling the increased performance of consumer products, spacecraft, and aerospace systems. Often, these advanced materials are specifically designed to suit a target application rather than for their ability to be machined or joined easily. Consequently, when conventional fabrication techniques are applied, the cost to produce a final part can increase and the quality can suffer.

Creare is developing novel machining technologies to enable the cost-effective, high-quality processing of advanced materials, increasing their affordability for many applications. As examples, we are developing laser-assisted, ultra-precision machining methods to help produce optical quality parts from powder-based ceramics. For joining, we have developed innovative designs for welding torches and unique methods to weld titanium in air. Creare is also developing non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods, used for flaw detection or assembly, and vision-based inspection techniques for the assembly of items such as thermal batteries.

Our continuing technology advancement is enabled by our expertise in transport phenomena, materials, software and data systems, and by our practical experience.

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