3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Stratasys and NCAMP Create Public Qualification Database for 3D Printing
qidi

Stratasys and NCAMP Create Public Qualification Database for 3D Printing

May 2, 2019

In an effort to reduce the costs and time required to demonstrate regulatory compliance of 3D printed parts, Stratasys worked with the National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) under FAA oversight to create a public domain database that includes standardized processes, equipment, and materials for meeting qualification standards. The database will even the playing field a bit for suppliers looking to get their 3D printed parts into aerospace and other industrial applications.

NCAMP started as a FAA-funded program within the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University and stemmed from NASA’s 1995 Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE).

Qualification and certification

There are many 3D printing technologies and materials so qualification is difficult. A regulatory agency can’t just certify a specific material because that same material could express different properties by being printed on different machines, or even printed on the same machine with different settings. For qualification, repeatability is everything. “Until you have that level of repeatability, it’s very challenging for a certifier to look at a technology and trust it,” said Scott Sevcik, VP of manufacturing solutions at Stratasys.

bigrep pro boyce 3d printed air ducts
Related Story
3D Printing as a Production Technology

By working with aerospace manufacturers and certification authorities, Stratasys hopes to “foster a collective understanding of core requirements necessary for a qualification path for AM parts.” They chose to base the qualification process off of their F900 3D printer and ULTEM 9085 resin due to the wide adoption of the FDM process and the material in various industries.

ULTEM 3D Printers and Filament Guide
Related Story
ULTEM 3D Printers and Filament Guide

The database covers the machine calibration and operation as well as material selection that will lead to the highest-quality parts. Chris Holshouser, technical director of advanced manufacturing development for the National Institute for Aviation Research (where NCAMP is located), explains, “Without that commonality and that consistent stepping off point, there’s a lot of variability and user influence that can go into driving a very different outcome with the same printer.”

Traditionally, qualification and certification are accessible only to large firms that have millions of dollars to spend on the processes. “That’s limited qualification of additive to some very big names with deep pockets to pursue qualification and take on that risk,” Sevcik stated. He’s hopeful their database will empower smaller companies, saying, “This provides a public qualification, data and processes that can be leveraged by anyone to significantly reduce their investment and uncertainty in their own qualification program.” Holshouser claims that using the database can cut the qualification process from eight months to a mere 20 days.

Of course, this is a smart move by Stratasys because it encourages suppliers to purchase Stratasys equipment and materials, though Sevcik clarifies that that’s not the only option: “Rather than installing the equipment and running that qualification program, they can go to a supplier and say, ‘We are producing parts against this specification. We need you to show compliance and your equivalency,’ and then that data flows up to the certification authority.”

Stratasys is reaching out to other qualification and standards organizations to create more databases, including one with SAE International for their AMS7100 fused filament fabrication process.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
About the author | Cameron Naramore
Cameron is a 3D printer and CNC operator. He's fond of cooking, traveling, and science fiction.
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

University of Pennsylvania Researchers Develop Carbon-Capturing Concrete

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have created a new type of concrete that captures carbon dioxide while maintaining structural integrity. The material... read more »

Construction

Dutch 3D Printing Startup Novenda Technologies Raises $6.1M for Dental Manufacturing Platform

Dutch startup Novenda Technologies has secured $6.1 million in Series A funding to advance its multi-material 3D printing platform for dental products. The... read more »

Dental

Singapore Startup Creates Limited Edition 3D-Printed Collectibles from Recycled Plastic Bottles

Singapore-based startup Unigons has launched a limited collection of 3D-printed Merlion figurines made from recycled plastic bottles. The company produced 60 pieces of... read more »

News
Singapore Startup Creates Limited Edition 3D-Printed Collectibles from Recycled Plastic Bottles

Designer Uses Robotic 3D Printing to Create Dual-Purpose Dog Furniture

Designer Liam de la Bedoyere has developed the Dog Hut Side Table, a piece of furniture that combines a resting space for dogs... read more »

News
Designer Uses Robotic 3D Printing to Create Dual-Purpose Dog Furniture

Scientists 3D Print Solar-Powered Sponge for Seawater Desalination

Researchers have developed a 3D-printed aerogel material that uses sunlight to convert seawater into drinking water. The sponge-like structure contains microscopic vertical channels... read more »

News

Revopoint Launches Major Prime Event 2025 Sale with Up to 40% Off 3D Scanners and Accessories

Revopoint is kicking off its Prime Event 2025 with a series of major discounts on its range of professional 3D scanners and accessories.... read more »

News

Turkish Companies Test 3D Printed Component for Armored Vehicles

MetalWorm and Nurol Makina, both based in Ankara, Turkey, have completed testing of an armored vehicle component manufactured using Directed Energy Deposition (DED)... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Turkish Companies Test 3D Printed Component for Armored Vehicles

McGill Spinout Uses 3D Bioprinting to Create Tumors for Smarter Cancer Treatments

TissueTinker, a McGill University spinout company, has developed 3D bioprinting technology to create miniaturized tumor models for cancer drug testing. The company recently... read more »

Medical
McGill Spinout Uses 3D Bioprinting to Create Tumors for Smarter Cancer Treatments

University of Twente Awarded €13.6M for Research in Circular 3D Printing and Transparent AI

The University of Twente has received €13.6 million in funding from the 2024 NWA ORC program to lead two research projects focused on... read more »

News
University of Twente Awarded €13.6M for Research in Circular 3D Printing and Transparent AI

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing