New Mexico additive manufacturing software developerSigma Labs，已获得其第三方验证PrintRite3Dplatform in astudy美国国防机构DARPA。
The study discusses the validation process involved in producing complex metal parts of consistent quality. It was sponsored by DARPA’sOpen Manufacturing Programand conducted in conjunction with aircraft engine manufacturer霍尼韦尔航空航天，那是collaborating with Sigma labssince 2014.
作为美国机构Department of Defense(DoD), DARPA is responsible for the development of emerging technologies for use by the military. In line with this goal, it created the the Open Manufacturing program to ‘lower the cost and speed the delivery of high-quality manufactured goods with predictable performance.’
DARPA验证质量保证和过程监控
One of the current challenges of metal additive manufacturing is verifying part quality throughout the production of a part. Using trial-and-error, this is done at a significant cost to the manufacturer. To cut the time and materials wasted Sigma Labs produced, andcontinue to develop, the PrintRite3D platform.
PrintRite3D is a combination of one hardware module and two software modules for additive manufacturing quality assurance, and in process monitoring. When used together they collect and process data which users can analyse and inspect, in real-time, and implement corrections if necessary.
对于高质量的最终使用零件，金属3D打印过程需要原位监控。制造后，还检查了这些部分的缺陷，例如高孔隙率，不正确的密度，残留应力，破裂和翘曲。结果，制造商不会知道该零件是否符合其设计规范，直到打印过程停止。
PrintRite3D hardware includes three individual modules. The Sensorpak, a hardware module which includes a set of off-axis and on-axis in-process sensors, which collects real-time data on each individual layer during 3D printing. The data that Sensorpak collects is then fed into two software modules – INSPECT and CONTOUR.
INSPECT uses the sensor data to establishes in-process metrics for each metal or alloy during the process, providing users with a part quality report.
CONTOUR is a layer-by-layer geometry measurement tool. It provides users with the ability to compare the part in-printing with the original digital CAD model during manufacture.
Advancing wide-scale industrialisation of metal AM
自1990年代后期以来，DARPA一直在调查3D打印的可能性，热衷于应对“成本升级”并在开发，原型制定和测试国防系统期间的延迟。
这项最近的研究表明，Printrite3D虽然不是专门针对防御的，但在产生高价值最终使用零件时，要解决或至少降低成本和提高首次成功率。该论文展示了Printrite3D如何在3D打印过程中检测和消除潜在的早期问题。当应用Printrite3D时，使用Rocket喷嘴作为测试部分，将3D打印的组件实现目标“孔隙率，几何精度和机械强度”。
Commenting on the results of the study John Rice, CEO of Sigma Labs, he said, “Obtaining this third-party validation of the value of PrintRite3D in metal additive manufacturing is one of the company’s most important milestones.”
Adding, “Our six-year research with Honeywell and the DARPA Open Manufacturing Program specifically demonstrates that the analysis of the Thermal Emission Density (TED) metric made possible by our technology can play a critical role in ensuring quality in industrial additive manufacturing of metal parts.”
该研究的细节，标题为“LPBF Right the First Time—the Right Mix Between Modeling and Experiments”, are published online inIntegrating Materials and Manufacturing Innovation。它由Mustafa Megahed，Hans-Wilfried Mindt，JöergWillems，Paul Dionne，Lars Jacquemetton，James Craig，Piyush Ranade和Alonso Peralta合着。
Sigma Labs也将在RAPID + TCT additive manufacturing conference本月在底特律。如果您想在演出期间遇到3D打印行业，请联系。
For live coverage of RAPID + TCT 2019, subscribe to the3D打印行业通讯, follow us onTwitterand like us onFacebook。Seeking jobs in engineering? Make your profile on3D打印作业， 或者advertiseto find experts in your area.
