UK-based Renishaw has just released their InfiniAM Spectral software for monitoring additive manufacturing systems. The metal manufacturing monitoring software helps achieve consistency in laser powder bed fusion outputs. This is especially useful for LPBF prints since the system uses millions of laser exposures to process materials.
What’s unique about this particular monitoring technique is that it can detect problems during and can thus be a pro-active means of quality control, rather than being reliant on detection or post-processing. The software retrieves data in real-time via the use of a LaserVIEW with a photosensitive diode. Similarly, another sensor type, the meltVIEW captures near-infrared and infrared spectrum emissions from the melt pool.
The meltpool data the sensors gather can then serve as a basis for optimisation as the print is processing. This data is layer by layer, inside and out. Companies can then view the data rendering live and pick out what discrepancies it detects.
Monitoring and Quality Control
“For Additive Manufacturing to become a truly ubiquitous manufacturing technology, users and practitioners require a deep understanding of the process,” explained Robin Weston, Marketing Manager at Renishaw’s Additive Manufacturing Products Division.
The InfiniAM Spectral is ideal for producing consistent parts in industries like medical or aerospace. The in-depth look at a prints structure provides in-depth insight and process control. It also makes a great complementary set of data to data from CT scans or X-Rays of the specific part companies want. Renishaw believe that it will be crucial to any series production process.
Featured image courtesy of Renishaw.