SOW_Draft.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK/REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

Title: Metal-Powder Binder Jetting 3D Printer Requesting Lab: Engineering Laboratory

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Production Systems Group (PSG) in the NIST Engineering Laboratory conducts research in metals-based additive manufacturing (AM) to develop and deploy advances in measurement science that will enable rapid design-to-product transformation. The PSG is expanding its repertoire of additive manufacturing research to include binder jetting process-based AM. This is an additive technology, that uses a powder-based material (e.g., metal powder) and a suitable binder (in liquid form, which acts as a glue) for that powder material. The print head moves in X and Y directions over the spread-powder layer, precisely depositing the binder onto the particles at pre-defined locations. After that, another layer of the powder is spread, and the binder is deposited again at pre-defined locations. The binder also acts as a glue between the previous and the new layer. The powder spreading and binder depositing process is repeated to form a 3D object (i.e., just by gluing, particle by particle, in X, Y, and Z directions). After this, the loose powder is removed, and the 3D object is heat-treated to produce a viable 3D metal part. Usually, the binder jetting 3D printer and ancillary instruments are sold together. The ancillary instruments include a powder preparation system, a curing oven, a depowdering station, and a debinding & sintering station.

The PSG aims to procure the above-mentioned metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer and the ancillary instruments to be installed at the Additive Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC) at NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland campus. The PSG has identified the scope of measurement science by identifying the challenges faced by key stakeholders in binder-jetting-based high-throughput manufacturing.

Purpose/Objective:

The PSG will utilize the metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer to conduct research that will improve the productivity, efficiency, and usability of binder jetting-based high-throughput manufacturing for the U.S. industry. Various aspects of binder jetting-based manufacturing research will be conducted, including but not limited to in-situ process monitoring, powder spreadability, powder compaction, densification, powder segregation, binder-powder interaction, part surface metrology, part distortion, and geometric accuracy metrology, etc.

II. SCOPE

The Vendor shall deliver (1) one, fully operational metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer and ancillary instruments (powder preparation system, curing oven, depowdering system, debinding and sintering furnace) delivered to NIST Gaithersburg campus (2) rigging, assembly, and installation by a trained technician (3) testing and validation of system operation (4) training of NIST personnel on programming and safe operation of the system. All are inclusive of FOB Destination delivery, installation, warranty and training, and option line items.

III. REQUIREMENTS and DESIRED ATTRIBUTES The Contractor shall provide a system that meets all technical specifications identified below. All items must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award.

Experimental, prototype, or custom items will not be considered. The use of “gray market” components are not authorized for sale in the U.S. by the Contractor is not acceptable. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

Line Item 0001: Metal-Powder Binder Jetting 3D Printer Description: The contractor must provide a fully operational metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer.

Quantity: 1

A. Technical Specifications:

a. System size (footprint):

i. The unit, its unassembled components, or the shipping containers must fit through a doorway that is 80 inches height and 64.5 inches width.

ii. The maximum external height (installed) is 70 inches tall, not including door or other accessory components

iii. The maximum external width (installed) is 44 inches wide, not including door or other accessory components

iv. The maximum external length (installed) is 110 inches long, not including door or other accessory components.

b. Build volume and dimensions:

i. The volume must be a minimum of 9 L.

ii. Each dimension must be a minimum of 250 mm (L) x 200 mm (W) x 180 mm (H).

c. Powder material deposition:

i. The unit must use a powder applicator with a hopper that moves across the building box. A hopper carries and dispenses powder.

d. Printer head resolution:

i. The unit must have a minimum of 800 dpi,

ii. Units with a resolution of 1200 dpi or greater are preferred.

iii. Units with a droplet size less than or equal to 3 pL are be preferred.

e. Productivity:

i. Capable of printing at or greater than 1,000 cubic centimeters/hour.

f. Material compatibility:

i. Capable of printing with stainless steels, nickel alloys, copper, and titanium alloys.

Line Item 0002: Powder preparation system Description: A powder preparation system is required to handle used powder. Users must be able to sieve the used powder, mix it with fresh powder, and get rid of the moisture content from the used powder in safe manner that contains the powder with the system.

Quantity: 1

A. Technical Specifications

a. The system must include appropriate sieves to prepare the powder for use in the

Metal-Powder Binder Jetting 3D Printer (Line Item 0001).

b. The system must blend or mix the powder.

c. The system must provide a means to reduce moisture in the powder such as an oven.

d. The system must confine the powder such as a glove box or down-draft table.

e. The system must be flexible allowing for use of different materials without a high probability of cross-contamination.

Line Item 0003: Curing oven Description: The contractor must provide a curing oven to remove the solvent agent from the binder of the freshly built wet part (green part).

Quantity: 1

A. Technical Specifications

a. The usable oven volume for curing must be between 10 L and 100 L.

b. The oven must be able to process under controlled atmospheres (e.g., inert gas).

c. Ovens that allow for curing and debinding (burnout of binder material) are preferred.

Line Item 0004: Manual Depowdering System Description: Contractor must supply a manual depowderding station. Depowdering means removing the excess (unbound powder) from the build box in order to further process printed parts.

Quantity: 1

A. Technical Specifications

a. The depowdering unit must be sized appropriately to accommodate the largest build that could come from the metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer (Line Item 0001).

b. The depowdering unit must allow for users to manually remove powder with hand tools such as a brush and air nozzle.

c. The depowdering unit must collect excess powder for reuse.

d. The depowdering unit must contain the powder such as a glove box.

e. The depowdering unit should be ergonomically designed for the manual operation of depowdering and handling printed parts.

Line Item 0005: Automated Depowdering System Description: An automated depowderding station that removes unbound powder using a programmable machine based on CAD of the printed parts and their layout in the build box is preferred in addition to Line Item 0004.

Quantity: 1

A. Technical Specifications

a. The automated depowdering machine must be programmable to perform depowdering in an automated fashion.

b. The depowdering unit must be sized appropriately to accommodate the largest build that could come from the metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer (Line Item 0001).

c. The depowdering unit must collect excess powder for reuse.

d. The depowdering machine must contain the powder.

Line Item 0006: Debinding and Sintering Furnace Description: The contractor must provide a furnace to remove the binder and sinter the printed parts to achieve a high density.

A. Technical Specifications

a. The working volume must be between 2.5 L and 10 L.

b. The smallest dimension of the working volume is 3 inches.

c. The furnace must fit on benchtop.

d. Voltage must be 208/240 1-Phase.

e. The debinding and sintering furnace must allow for controlled atmosphere: inert, reducing, and/or vacuum.

Line Item 0007: Printing Software Description: The contractor must provide software to convert CAD files into print ready files and assign printing parameters.

A. Technical Specifications

a. The software must convert CAD files (e.g., .STL files) to printer ready format.

b. The printing software must allow users to change the main process parameters including the powder layer thickness (i.e., open parameter sets).

c. The software must account for part shrinkage in some manner.

Line Item 0008: Default process parameters Description: The contractor must provide default process parameters that have demonstrated consistent process and part performance. A parameter set includes process parameters for (1) feedstock requirements, (2) printing, (3) curing, (4) debinding, and (5) sintering. A material specification describes the part performance for the parameter set.

A. Technical Specifications

a. The contractor must provide process parameters for (1) 316L stainless steel and (2) a nickel alloy (e.g., 625 or 718).

b. The contractor must provide a material specification sheet with typical chemistry, density and mechanical properties for the aforementioned 316L stainless steel parameter set.

c. The process parameters must be provided as software and/or electronic documentation.

d. Parameters sets and material specs as described above for additional alloys are preferred.

Line Item 0009: Starter materials/supplies Description: The binder jet process uses consumables. Some initial supplies are needed to get started. The contract must supply starter materials/supplies that are compatible with binder jet machine (Line item 001) and process parameters (Line item 008).

A. Technical Specifications

a. The contractor must provide a minimum of 50 kg of 316L stainless steel.

b. The contractor must provide a minimum of 50 kg of nickel alloy 625 or 718.

c. The contractor must provide a sufficient binder to print these materials.

IV. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland, Building 304 Room 124

V. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE/LEAD TIME

Lead Time: Installation and training should occur within 4 months after award.

VI. DELIVERY TERMS

Delivery shall be F.O.B Destination and shall occur in accordance with the delivery due dates provided in the above table.

FOB Destination means: The contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for any loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. The contractor shall deliver all Line Items to:

POC

Brandon Lane, Building 233/B116 National Institute of Standards and Technology Engineering Laboratory Intelligent Systems Division 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899 Phone: (301) 975-5471

COR

Debbie Russel, RWR-G National Institute of Standards and Technology Engineering Laboratory Intelligent Systems Division 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8320 Phone: (301) 975-3419

***Due to ongoing limited site access of the NIST facilities, the Awardee SHALL confirm with the Designated Government Official and the Contracting Officer prior to ANY shipment to NIST***

VII. INSTALLATION

The system shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications no later than one week after delivery. Installation, at a minimum, shall include uncrating/unpackaging of all equipment, rigging, set-up and hook-up of the system, demonstration of all specifications, and removal of trash. Onsite installation and demonstration shall be done at NIST, (Gaithersburg, MD- Building 304 Room 124).

VIII. TRAINING

The contractor shall conduct training session for up to 5 (five) users at NIST. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting.

The training may be completed at NIST Monday – Friday during the operating hours of 8 am to 5 pm immediately after installation and demonstration of specifications and must be completed no later than 5 days after installation. Further training requirements are identified below:

A. Training should include modules on:

a. Operation of all hardware and software components required for metal-powder binder jetting 3D printer, powder preparation system, curing oven, depowdering station, and debinding & sintering station.

B. Vendor will provide electronic and hard copies of manuals covered during training.

IX. INSPECTION & ACCEPTANCE

In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms articulated in 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform such performance tests and evaluations as defined below to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment that the system is to be operated. The Contractor has the right to be present during the tests and evaluations, if performed, at the Contractor’s expense.

NIST may choose at its discretion to forego this part of acceptance testing.

A visual inspection of the equipment will be performed by the NIST TPOC to identify surface defects or any form of indication that any equipment was damaged during transport to NIST. The Government shall have sole discretion to require repair or replacement of damaged and/or nonconforming supplies at no cost to the Government. The Government at any time prior to acceptance shall reject the equipment due to defects and/or nonconformance. The vendor is responsible for latent defects discovered any time after final inspection. However, the extent of its liability shall be prorated over the useful life of the equipment.

Ownership of the equipment shall transfer to NIST upon acceptance by the Government.

The Government will test, inspect, and accept or reject the equipment within 10 (ten) days of the receipt of the equipment unless otherwise indicated above. The Government reserves the right to conduct quality assurance testing to confirm that a given instrument(s) meets the manufacturer’s and/or the Government’s performance specifications. It is anticipated that the equipment will meet all manufacturer’s specifications and/or the Government’s performance specifications identified in the most recent operations and maintenance manual for each piece of equipment and/or in this document.

X. WARRANTY

The contractor shall warranty the entire system for a period of a minimum of 1 year after receipt of the equipment and shall be in accordance with terms in FAR 52.212-4. Warranty shall commence upon acceptance of the system by the Government.

XI. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Advance payment is not authorized. The Contractor must invoice in arrears according to the payment schedule. The Contractor shall be paid, in accordance with Net 30-day payment terms, upon receipt and acceptance of a proper invoice, in accordance with the following schedule:

1. 100% after installation and acceptance by the TPOC of fully installed system, AND

2. After the successful completion of the testing requirements set forth in this document under section set forth in this document, AND

3. After successful demonstration by the instrumentation that it performs IAW the technical requirements set forth in this document AND

4. After receiving an invoice submitted properly, IAW the purchase order terms and conditions.

NOTE: Partial shipments and partial invoices will not be accepted, unless otherwise requested and accepted by the Contracting Officer prior to award offer. Proposed payment schedules shall be submitted with vendor’s response to the RFQ for consideration.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor employee must be responsible for knowing and complying with all installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Regular Business Hours. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Time, excluding Federal holidays and NIST closures.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees must comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee must wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued.

The pass must be displayed on the vehicle in accordance with NIST Security Office instructions.

***Due to ongoing limited site access of the NIST facilities, the Awardee SHALL confirm with the Designated Government Official and the Contracting Officer prior to ANY shipment to NIST***