3D4MEC and Fraunhofer IAPT are working together to improve the 3D printing process for brass

Metal 3D printing specialist 3D4MEC has entered into a partnership with the Fraunhofer IAPT. Fraunhofer IAPT focuses its research and development on the industrialization of additive manufacturing. Together, the partners want to develop an advanced optical in-situ monitoring system for the 3D4BRASS printer.

“The collaboration with Fraunhofer IAPT and Thetascan is a tremendous opportunity for 3D4MEC to strengthen our commitment to research and development, an area in which we have heavily invested over the past years. With this synergy, we aim to develop customized additive manufacturing solutions for special materials, meeting the specific needs of our clients and the market,” said Fabrizio Marino Corsini, Managing Director of 3D4MEC.

The innovative monitoring system is designed to detect real-time errors during the selective laser melting process, significantly increasing the quality and repeatability of the manufactured components. The department for L-PBF – In-situ Monitoring and Process Control at the Fraunhofer IAPT contributes highly qualified scientific know-how to the development of new technologies for metal 3D printing. The project will also investigate the possibilities of advanced 3D optical tomography (3D-OT) to further expand the monitoring capabilities of the system.

“In 3D4MEC, we have found an excellent partner to move on and advance the further development of optical tomography technology beyond the state of the art by means of extended sensor integration and fusion of multiple sensing technologies for a data-based quality control in Laser Powder Bed Fusion. The project will also profit from our previous investigations into optical tomography with ThetaScan,” said Dennis Jutkuhn, scientific assistant for In-situ Monitoring & Process Control in L-PBF of Fraunhofer IAPT.

The integration of this innovative technology enables 3D4MEC to offer globally unique solutions that enable real-time monitoring and correction of process errors in brass 3D printing. This leads to a reduction in material waste and an increase in energy efficiency. In addition, the project contributes to improving component quality and the sustainability of production processes, which meets the current requirements of the industrial market.