Sigma Labs and Materialise sign MoU to commercialize metal AM quality assurance system

Sigma Labs, a Santa Fe-based developer of in-situ quality assurance systems, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Belgian 3D printing software companyMaterialise。

根据谅解备忘录，两家公司将结合其专业知识，以开发用于金属3D打印的综合原位质量保证（QA）系统，以期商业化该技术。

Sigma Labs PrintRite 3D. Photo by Michael Petch — Sigma Labs Printrite3D打印的测试齿轮。迈克尔·皮奇（Michael Petch）的照片。

Materialise Control Platform

Founded in 1990, Materialise is anaward-winningcompany that develops advanced software for the additive industry. For metal additive manufacturing, in particular, Materialise has the电子阶段金属支撑, which eases the removal of support in the post-processing stage.在医疗行业中，物质Mimics Innovation Suite在引入“software as a medical device’条款。

The Belgian company also makes the Materialise Control Platform (MCP), a product of proprietary algorithms used to control AM workflow in real-time. For example, in laser melting process MCP, with the help of thermal inspection, can be used to control the temperature to avoid warping and curling.

Materialise’ success in recent years has drawn attention from some of the biggest names in the industry, such as巴斯夫, who hasinvested $25 millionin the Belgian company.

Materialise 3D printer facility in Leuven, Belgium. Photo via Materialise

金属3D打印中的质量检查

金属3D打印过程中可能出现的一些问题是几何异常和印刷运行之间的质量不一致。一个例子是两台机器之间的区别，这可能需要不同的参数才能成功打印出同一对象。A使用与M270相同的参数，在EOS M270 DMLS打印机中生产的部分可能无法准确打印在EOS M290中。这可能是由于机器中的次要修饰，例如改善了EOS M290中的惰性气流控制。

为了避免此类问题并实时控制3D打印过程，Sigma Labs开发了PrintRite3D, a combination of hardware and software for use in metal additive manufacturing. The PrintRite3D bundle includes thePrintrite3D Sensorpak, PrintRite3D INSPECT and PrintRite3D CONTOUR. The Sensorpak is fitted with all the hardware required to collect data, such as sensors and cameras. And on the software side, the PrintRite3D Sensorpak is supported by INSPECT and CONTOUR, which monitor the metallurgical properties of metals during the printing process and report anomalies.

Earlier this year, theSigma Labs获得了Printrite3D的专利由美国专利商标局。Furthermore, PrintRite3D also received validation in a study by the国防高级研究项目局(DARPA).

Now, it has been revealed that Materialise and Sigma Labs will develop and commercialize an integrated in-situ quality assurance (QA) system for metal 3D printing. The developed QA system will be commercialized under a joint agreement.

这不是两家公司之间的第一次合作。2014年，Mitalize整合了其AM自动化，控制和管理软件流媒体into Sigma Labs’ PrintRite3D.

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特色图片显示Sigma Labs Printrite3D打印测试齿轮。迈克尔·皮奇（Michael Petch）的照片。