SOW - Modified.pdf

Statement of Work- May 3 2022

MEMORANDUM

FROM: Jeffrey Ewin, AB44100

TO: Contracting

SUBJ: Procurement of Tribometer

1. INTRODUCTION

The Lubricants Group of the Lubricants, Fuels, and Chemistry Lab Branch (AB44100) located in the

Propulsion Systems Evaluation Facility (PSEF) in Building 2360 is in need of a multipurpose tribometer that can be used for characterization and test programs for fleet conditions. This tribometer is a requirement of the Navy’s specification testing programs for the qualification of MIL-PRF-23699 gas turbine engine oils and DOD-PRF-85734 helicopter transmission oils, as well as for Navy oil development programs and resolving fleet service issues in military aircraft.

2. SCOPE

The Lubricants Group has a critical need for a multifunctional modular tribometer which is a device capable of measuring lubricant coefficient of friction and wear characteristics of aviation hardware. The tribometer system should conform to the following technical requirements.

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1. Instrument Requirements

3.1.1. Operate the Four-Ball test methods ASTM D2783 and ASTM D4172.

3.1.2. Capable to operate pin on disk wear test ASTM G99 in same load frame with additional adapters.

3.1.3. Capable to operate linear wear test ASTM G133 in same load frame with additional adapters.

3.1.4. Capable to measure normal load and torque simultaneously.

3.1.5. Measure the normal load and test torque continuously throughout the prescribed test procedure.

3.1.6. Capable to test with variable time, speed, load, and temperature.

3.1.7. Measure maximum applied force of 800 kg (7,900 N).

3.1.8. Capable to apply a range of applied loads from 10 kg to 800 kg.

3.1.9. Capable to vary the applied load during testing while spindle or components are rotating/translating.

3.1.10. Measure a maximum test torque of 10 Newton-meter (N-m).

3.1.11. Should be able to rotate the top ball specimen at least 2,200 rpm.

3.1.12. The lower ball specimens should remain stationary.

3.1.12.1. The lower specimen holder should be removable from the instrument with the test specimens still installed.

3.1.12.2. The lower specimen holder should be compatible with aviation lubricants conforming to MIL-

PRF-23699 & DOD-PRF-85734, and also solvents such as acetone and heptane.

3.1.13. The temperature of the lubricant should be measured in the fluid. An additional thermocouple should also be placed in the heater housing.

3.1.14. Provide temperature control of test lubricant up to 225°C with a control set point deviation of

±2°C.

3.1.14.1. The temperature controller should use a PID control.

3.1.14.2. The parameters of the PID control should be editable by the end user.

3.1.15. Test fixtures should be compatible with ½-inch diameter ball test specimens.

3.1.16. The instrument should include an exhaust fan to be able to remove lubricant fume vapors from the test samples.

3.1.17. Instrument should be capable to run pin-on-disk tests (ASTM G99) with included adapters.

3.1.17.1. The pin-on-disk setup should be capable to contain a fluid and test specimens.

3.1.17.2. The pin-on-disk set up should be capable to hold a sample diameter of up to 1.75 inches.

3.1.17.3. The pin-on-disk set up should be capable of a max rotational speed of 5,000 rpm.

3.1.17.4. The pin-on-disk set up should include a load cell able to measure a range of normal forces from

5-200 N with a resolution of at least 10 mN.

3.1.17.5. The pin-on-disk set up should include sample holder adapters to hold a ball specimen up to a 1/2 inch diameter. The sample holder should be designed for a sustained operating temperature of at least 450°C.

3.1.17.6. The pin-on-disk set up should be include a chamber to allow for liquid tests that can be temperature controlled.

3.2. Modular Requirements- Additional Test Capabilities

3.2.1. Instrument should be able to run additional hardware setups in addition to 4-Ball.

3.2.2. Instrument should include load frame to allow for multiple test configurations.

3.2.3. The load frame of the instrument should be capable of loads up to 8,500 N.

3.2.4. Base instrument should have a motorized sample stage capable of traveling in 2 directions that are perpendicular to each other.

3.2.4.1. The motorized stages should allow for reciprocating motion.

3.2.4.2. The motorized stages should have at least a 100 mm range of travel in both directions.

3.2.4.3. The motorized stages should include an encoder to track location.

3.2.4.4. The stage encoder should have a resolution of 1 µm or lower.

3.2.4.5. The motorized stages should allow for easy installation of additional adapters with predrilled threaded bolt patterns.

3.2.4.6. The location from the linear stages should be able to be stored as reference for test article.

3.2.5. Pin-on-disk test setup should be capable to heat the fluid reservoir around the disk specimen up to

450°C.

3.2.6. Instrument should be capable to run linear reciprocation wear tests (ASTM G133) with additional adapters.

3.2.7. The load cell should be able to be changed to allow for different applied load ranges to support multiple testing configurations.

3.2.8. The system should be capable to perform electronic impedance spectroscopy.

3.2.8.1. The hardware with the electronic impedance spectroscopy setup should be able to electrically isolate the test specimens from the surrounding machine.

3.2.8.2. The vendor should have readily available parts in a catalog that can be used for electronic impedance spectroscopy.

3.3. Software Requirements

3.3.1. Software should be included to control multiple stages, applied load, spindle speeds, reciprocating speed and frequency, test duration, and test specimen temperature.

3.3.1.1 Software should be able to control the speed and direction of the motorized stages.

3.3.2. Software should be able to display data in real time during testing.

3.3.3. Software should be able to record test data for individual tests at a sample frequency of at least 1

KHz. The data to be recorded includes the applied normal load, frictional force, torque, spindle speed, stage position, reciprocating speed, temperature, and time. The data file should be able to be saved and named at the time of file creation.

3.3.4. Software should allow for load and torque sensors to be tared before testing.

3.3.5. The software should be capable to alter the test parameters for time, load, spindle speed, reciprocating frequency, and temperature.

3.3.5.1. The software should be able to configure the test before running with a script or program.

3.3.5.2. The software should allow for test conditions to be altered while a test is operating.

3.3.5.3. Software should allow for test abort/fast shutdown/interlocks to be enacted when pre-set criteria are met for parameters of load, temperature, coefficient of friction, and/or spindle speed.

3.3.6. The software should be able to recognize which module is installed into the load frame.

3.3.6.1. Software should utilize error checking to ensure modules not installed cannot be operated.

3.3.7. Software should be able to run on Windows 10 operating system.

3.3.8. Software should be designed with future operating systems in mind, ie. Ability to run on Windows

11 in future.

3.3.9. Manufacturer should provide updates to the software and also provide technical support for software.

3.4. Past Performance

3.4.1 The manufacturer should have supplied the same load frame base instrument to other DOD customers previously.

3.4.2 The manufacturer should have supplied a test setup for the 4-Ball test method ASTM D2783 to other commercial customers previously.

4. Deliverables

The deliverables include one fully operational tribometer system with controls as described in the previous section that is ready for installation. The hardware should be able to operate the 4-Ball extreme pressure method to hold and secure all of the test specimens. The hardware should also be able to operate a pin-on-disk setup with a disk diameter of at least 1.75 inches and a ball specimen diameter of 0.25 inches. All hardware for the tribometer, controller, operator panel, associated mounting hardware, and associated electrical cables and wiring should be included.

5. Technical Point of Contact

Jeffrey Ewin

Naval Air Systems Command- Air Systems Group

22229 Elmer Road, Building 2360

Patuxent River, MD 20670

(O) 301-757-3394

(D) 727-710-3828

E-mail: jeffrey.j.ewin2.civ@us.navy.mil

For contracts office:

1. Industry Survey

Four companies were surveyed for instrument capabilities.

1.1 RTEC-Instruments

RTEC-Instruments is the only company contacted that offers a modular instrument that meets the requirements of this contract request. The instrument should be capable of an applied normal load of

7,900 N, a lubricant temperature control in the 4-Ball test stationary balls up to 225°C, a measured torque up to 10 Netwon-meter, the top ball should rotate in a spindle up to 2,000 rpm, the applied normal load and torque should be measured continuously, and the test equipment should be modular and allow for additional configurations with additional adapters that can be installed into the same test load frame. The load frame is should be capable to run ASTM G99 and ASTM G133 in the same instrument with additional adapters. The contact information for RTEC is:

RTEC-Instruments

1810 Oakland Road

San Jose, CA 95131

1.2 Bruker Instruments- Nano Surfaces Division

Bruker Instruments offers a modular tribometer that is limited to a maximum load of 2,000 N. The required load for the test method ASTM D2783 is 7,900 N. Their instrument does not have the load capacity to meet the requirements. They did not provide a quote.

1.3 Nanovea

Nanovea offers a modular tribometer that is limited to a maximum load of 2,000 N. The required load for the test method ASTM D2783 is 7,900 N. Their instrument does not have the load capacity to meet the requirements. They did not provide a quote.

The responsible official at this company is Mr. Michael Rodriguez

The contact information is 949-461-9292, michael.rodriguez@nanovea.com

1.4 Compass-Instruments

mailto:jeffrey.j.ewin2.civ@us.navy.mil

Compass-Instruments offers a dedicated 4-Ball EP tester that is capable of running ASTM D2783 at loads of 7,900 N. The test is only capable of this contact condition and is not capable to test ASTM G99 or

ASTM G133 which is a requirement for this instrument. Their instrument does not have the necessary modularity to meet the requirements.