Sigma Labs Inc (SASI)

[EDMGUY]

jjsmith77,
Thanks for the reasoned response. Here is where I think some of the details are overlooked:
1: The INSPECT closed loop link you used is talking about monitoring/guiding an automated welding machine based on the weld pool data it captures. It is sending that data over to the expert system(software). When the process starts to get out of control it decides which parameters to adjust. Which in turn sends a corrective action over to the machine.
My point is that expert systems are not perfect. They learn as you use them. I run CNC EDM (hence the EDMGUY) machines every day with expert systems.They are a huge benefit to making consistently good parts.They react to a potentially destructive situation far faster(micro seconds) than I can. Once I prove out my process on that part I can run my machine all night/weekend unattended with a high confidence of good parts.

2:A welding process although similar is far less sophisticated than a powder bed AM process. Making it much more difficult to develop an expert system for AM.

Does that mean INSPECT is not a closed loop process? No
But it doesn't mean that you can just install it on any machine and start making any part you need that day and they will all be good parts.

The true benefit to me is once you have a good process for making a good part you can use the captured build data to prove that nothing bad happened for every part. Your inspection needs are greatly reduced.
And it can stop the build if an event is detected that would likely result in a bad part(less scrap and wasted machine time).

I know this is getting long but one last thing.
I don't think the speed issue is strictly the cm3/hr. It's more the difference between making a nozzle in 1 piece with AM or a 10 pc assembly with conventional machining(slower and more expensive).
I have done a fair amount of machining with Nickel and Inconel and they are extremely difficult metals to handle.

Great discussion
Regards