Removable Smart Tooling for High Temperature Composite Fabrication

The Department of Defense, specifically the Navy branch, is seeking innovative solutions through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for the development of removable smart tooling for high-temperature composite fabrication. The objective is to create tooling that enables the production of complex thermoplastic composite parts using Automated Tape Placement (ATP) and Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) technologies, with stringent requirements for dimensional tolerances, cost-effectiveness, and environmental safety. This initiative is crucial for enhancing manufacturing efficiency in the composites industry, particularly for applications in commercial aircraft and naval platforms, where reduced part counts and complex shapes are essential. Interested parties should note that the solicitation is currently in the pre-release phase, with an open date of January 8, 2025, and a close date of February 5, 2025, for applications. Further details can be found on the official SBIR website at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/.