Purdue Space Program wins Collegiate Propulsive Lander Challenge

Elementum 3D’s long journey with fifty undergraduate students in the Purdue Space Program-Active Controls (PSP-AC) team has culminated with tremendous success. The PSP-AC team was one of only three teams worldwide to win the $15,000 engine throttling prize from the Collegiate Propulsive Lander Challenge (CPLC).

The Challenge’s objective was to have student teams create self-landing rockets to advance vertical take-off and vertical-landing (VTVL) technology. PSP-AC’s winning answer to the challenge was their innovative TADPOLE propulsion system.

NASA STTR Phase I awards Elementum 3D, University of Utah, and Penn State to develop GRX810 cold spray AM process

Elementum 3D, in partnership with Penn State Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) and the University of Utah, has been awarded a NASA STTR Phase I contract to develop GRX810 for Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing and Repair. Notably, GRX810 was recognized as NASA’s Commercial Invention of the Year for its groundbreaking advancements.

Cold Spray Additive Manufacturing (CSAM) (Figure 1a) is a popular technique that repairs aerospace and space components by launching millions of particles at high speeds. This process ensures a uniform, dense coating and strong metallurgical bonding. However, the awardees understand there are complexities in the bonding mechanics of GRX 810 (Figure 1b). GRX-810 depends heavily on particle and target chemistry, microstructure, impact velocity, and temperature. Even a thin oxide layer can dramatically alter the bonding characteristics, forcing the process to require a higher critical velocity and producing a subdued micro-jetting phenomenon.

Researchers find it difficult to systematically probe the influence of these parameters and optimize the cold spray bonding process. Nevertheless, Penn State ARL has developed CSAM parameters for new materials, including nickel alloys.

Elementum 3D and OSU CDME developing advanced copper-based materials capability for additive manufacturing of RF components under Navy STTR Phase II program

In May, Elementum 3D and The Ohio State University Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (OSU CDME) began work on a 2-year Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase II research contract with Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). This Phase II program follows the company’s successful Phase I Base and Option efforts.

Additive manufacturing enables production of high-performance components that would otherwise not be feasible by traditional means. It also can offer improved costs and reliability by minimizing subcomponents that need to be brazed or joined and reducing other manual manufacturing steps.

The focus of the program is to develop broad capability for RF and electro-optical electronics including AM feedstock, process, design methodologies, and post processing. RF and microwave system components are often fabricated using labor-intensive manual processes like joining and bending (below, left), and it is believed that AM can help reduce labor costs and lead times for legacy system component replacement as well as enhance the capabilities of next generation components (below, right).

Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein is going to Washington

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Dr. Jacob Nuechterlein, Elementum 3D CEO and Founder, will spend the day with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the leading advocacy group for U.S. businesses. As part of the elite group of Vistage Member Excellence Award winners selected in October 2024, Jacob will spend the day listening to several U.S. Chamber of Commerce policy experts presenting on key issues including small business policy, international policy and more.

The goal of the event is to give CEOs and business owners from all over the country the opportunity to influence legislation that affects business and get the inside track on policy issues to help make better decisions.

As a representative of the Vistage community at Vistage on the Hill, Jacob will be engaging directly with Chamber policy experts on pressing issues—including small business, international policy, and AI—sharing real-world insights to help shape the future of business policy. A discussion and real-world insights from attending Vistage members, representing a range of industries, will follow the presentations.

“It’s a privilege to represent Vistage on the Hill. The insight gained into the small to midsize business landscape is essential to our company’s sustainability. The opportunity to engage with the US Chamber of Commerce is more than an honor, Vistage has given CEOs an active voice to impact key business policies and legislative agendas,” said Dr. Nuechterlein.

The two-day invitation-only Vistage on the Hill is presented by Vistage Worldwide, Inc. in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Vistage is the world’s largest CEO coaching and peer advisory organization for small and midsize businesses. For more than 65 years, they have helped CEOs, business owners and key executives solve their greatest challenges through confidential peer groups and one-to-one executive coaching sessions.