So mostly nothing new here but Id like to just add my two cents..In regards to PPS and the like..if we just reflect back on CC it seems to me that both Mark and Vivek were saying...SLOW..the additive world doesnt know which way to go just yet and everyone (GE, AEROSPACE, ETC.) is looking how to say "YES...this is the standard which we will use".. So the next to last two paragraphs from that CC really just seems to sum things up. Quote from CC :
"Mark Cola - President and Chief Executive Officer
Sure, so, thanks for the question Tim. I think back to Rob’s point about things perhaps slowing down a bit and people taking stock of what they’re doing. I think it all sort of concatenates at the level of just the general trend for these early adopters which tends to be Aerospace and Defense sort of applications. They take a very cautious approach to their technology maturation.
And so, they of course have to deal with whatever burning issues of the day with a long-term line of sight to, what do, they really need at the end of the day. And that of course is to be able to - initially first get into production and then secondarily over time begin to address and reinforce the question of is my process in control.
And if so, how do I know that and that’s where the real pay-offs are for Sigma Labs, as they start early with these products and begin to understand is my process in control. Well then they can move to answering the questions of, do I have a quality assured product and if so, how do I know it. And that’s where Sigma Labs is really working hard to help them understand.
It’s important to get in with these programs since while we have the early adopter program and begin to learn and understand the AM process now using tools such as ours. And then how do you use these tools later on to validate over and over that you continue to produce a quality product. And there regulatory agencies are going to eventually demand that sort of quality reassurance.
And I think Vivek, maybe you want to add a thought or two on some of the compliance activities that we’re aware of from the likes of say the FAA?
Vivek Dave - Scientific Advisor
Yes, sure. Well, again, thanks to everyone for the great questions. So, here is the dilemma and this also may help answer the question why does it take so long to get something into Aerospace that’s new.
When you look at traditional materials, things that come from a mill or come from a foundry, or come from a primary metal processing industry? The material is created at the mill, at the foundry. It arrives in Boeing or GE or Lockheed Martin shop, they machine it, they weld it, they assemble it, they put it together they ship it.
Additive Manufacturing is totally different. I was just at a conference on the International Society of Air Breathing Engines in Phoenix. And it’s appearing as if the FAA is going to take the position that for Additive Manufacturing, the material is created in the printer, in the box. That’s a radical departure from traditional aerospace materials when you think about that, most of the time the materials created somewhere else that comes into your factory, you process it, you turned it into a park and you ship it.
So, I think the industry is trying to wrap their head around that. Quite frankly the regulators are trying to understand that too. And so, I think at least in Aerospace that’s what you’re seeing, a little bit of uncertainty as to exactly what is the goal, how high is the bar and then what do I need to meet it.
But at the end of the day, I think all of that is good for us because the direction things are going to be going in are more scrutiny, more inspection, more proof, more evidence that the process is under control, not less.
So, at least as far as we’re concerned, this is a positive move. And certainly to ensure the safety of the flying public, we think it’s a positive move as well."
At least for me anyways that really seems to address where this thing could go but more importantly why it really hasn't gone anywhere yet. Its still really early and the big boys take their sweet time integrating ANYTHING especially when it comes to public safety. Cheers
