University of New Hampshire
McNair Scholar, 2024
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Brad Kinsey
Research Title: Determination of Material Properties in Aluminum from Strain Hardening via Robotic Blacksmithing
Abstract:
In Space Manufacturing is an emerging field aimed to reduce cost and create large scale technological advancements. The development of ISM will allow for a more sustainable, safer, and cost-effective space industry. Robotic blacksmithing is a process that if developed will create safer, cheaper technologies in space while having the ability to use material already found in space. The development of a process that effectively uses the cold forging technique is vital to fast track its implementation. Using a forging end effector attached to a robotic arm, testing the cold forging process on readily available aluminum provides data on its effectiveness and provides a process that will be applied to a lunar regolith and space craft grade aluminum mixture. Analysis of hardness and deformation allows for strain hardening to be measured, penetration of the strain hardening, and for surface properties to be measured. Penetration data provides insight into the thickness of material layers that can be used in ISM.
