SBIR-STTR Award

Terahertz Thickness Sensor Guided Coating Removal Tool
Award last edited on: 8/22/2018

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
DOD : AF
Total Award Amount
$900,000
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
AF171-104
Principal Investigator
David Zimdars

Company Information

TeraMetrix LLC (AKA: TeraMetrix, LLC~Picometrix LLC~Picometrix Inc)

2925 Boardwalk Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
   (734) 864-5600
   sales@picometrix.com
   www.picometrix.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 12
County: Washtenaw

Phase I

Contract Number: FA8650-17-P-5055
Start Date: 6/15/2017    Completed: 3/12/2018
Phase I year
2017
Phase I Amount
$150,000
The feasibility of dynamically guiding the subsurface blade depth used to cut specialty military aircraft coatings using time-domain terahertz tomography (THz) measurements will be demonstrated. Picometrix has developed a commercial off the shelf (COTS)

Phase II

Contract Number: FA8650-18-C-5029
Start Date: 7/30/2018    Completed: 7/30/2020
Phase II year
2018
Phase II Amount
$750,000
A terahertz guided cutting tool will be built and tested.An initial brass board prototype will be built based on a commercial off the shelf (COTS) THz specialty coating thickness measurement system with handheld probe TeraMetrix has developed.This will be adaptable to both non-metallic straight blades and a metallic circular cutter.This system will be tested with various coupons to ensure cutting accuracy, ability to handle various features and areas of high curvature, comfortable and ergonomic use and maintainability.This will be followed by an alpha prototype customizing the handheld probe and incorporating lessons learned.The system will be lightweight (< 3lbs) and easy to use through a small touchscreen on the tool. In phase I, testing on relevant coatings and composite substrates has demonstrated thickness measurement with precision and accuracy < 1 mil.The THz method can measure coatings <<5 mils to >300 mils. The THz method does not exhibit thickness error in the presence of curved surfaces, fasteners or seams.