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FAST Center Goals:

The goal of the FAST Center is to support the DOD and the warfighter by dramatically increasing the pace of material innovation and development. This state-of-the-art, fully automated characterization lab will help expedite the certification of new materials or thermal processes by conducting thousands of tests in a matter of weeks with the ability to deliver on multiple concurrent projects.

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The Future Alloy Study & Testing (FAST) Center, commissioned by the Department of Defense (DOD), is a partnership between Scot Forge and the Innovation Capability and Modernization (ICAM) office that manages and executes the Department’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program element. The FAST Center is a highly automated characterization lab that supports the IBAS goals of improving the readiness and competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base by expediting the testing and reporting of new alloys and process methods.

Welcome to the Future Alloy Study & Testing Center

Fast Center Operational Paths:

1. VELOCITY TESTING is High Volume Testing for Property Bounding

This path is designed and equipped to conduct rapid turnaround of very high volumes of the most common tests for property bounding. Velocity testing capabilities are designed to maximize the data available for the scientific community and are useful for rapid chemistry and heat treat iteration testing.

2. DISCRETE TESTING is Low Volume Testing for Property Refinement

This path is highly customized. Upon agreement of the appropriate chemistries or heat treatments, samples will proceed to the discrete testing path for the remainder of the characterization requirements. Given the nature of the tests, the duration of the discrete tests will be highly dependent on the alloy system and testing requirements.

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March 2024

FAST Center Government Funding Received

August 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Begins

October 2024

FAST Center Open to Project Applications

December 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Complete

March 2025

FAST Center Velocity Testing Begins 

(Limited Pace)

August 2025

FAST Center Operational for Velocity and Discrete Testing

March 2024

FAST Center Government Funding Received

October 2024

FAST Center Open to Project Applications

March 2025

FAST Center Velocity Testing Begins 

(Limited Pace)

August 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Begins

December 2024

FAST Center Building Construction Complete

August 2025

FAST Center Operational for Velocity and Discrete Testing

FAST Center Operational Timeline:

Velocity Testing

  • Sample excision and machining for standard materials

  • Heat Treating

    • 800°F to 2000°F

    • Air cool or water quench

  • Room Temperature Tensile to ASTM E8

  • Room Temperature Compression to ASTM E9

  • Charpy Impact to ASTM E23

    • Test temperatures -150°F to +100°F

  • Dynamic Tear Impact to ASTM E604

    • Test temperatures -150°F to +100°F

  • Room Temperature Fracture Toughness to ASTM E399 / ASTM E1820

  • Hardness / Microhardness per ASTM E18 / ASTM E384

  • Microstructural testing includes:

    • Specimen preparation

    • Grain size per ASTM E112

    • Inclusion rating per ASTM E45

    • Density via image analysis to ASTM E1245

    • Microstructural characterization

 

Discrete Testing

  • Alternate Temperature Tensile and Compression testing per ASTM E8, ASTM E9, ASTM E21 and ASTM E209

    • Test temperatures -140°F to 1800°F

  • Creep, Stress Rupture and Stress Relaxation per ASTM E139, ASTM E292, ASTM E328

  • Room Temperature High Cycle Fatigue per ISO 1143 (Rotating Beam)

  • Chemistry

Fast Center Capabilities:

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