Sigma Labs Inc (SASI)

[jpi]

It certainly does...

https://www.asme.org/about-asme/news/asme-news/taking-3d-printing-beyond-prototype

Conference attendees learned of some of the latest work in AM Verification and Validation, especially for metal parts destined for flight. “How does the FAA know that the part that part you get out of that machine meets design intent?” asked Donald Godfrey, Ph.D., Engineering Fellow at Honeywell Aerospace. Dr. Godfrey described DARPA funded work Honeywell carried out with Sigma Labs, on a quality control system that monitors the melt pool as laser sintering machines build up parts.

Godfrey also described a privately-funded project, also with Sigma Labs, testing software that uses high resolution photography. “What we’re doing is taking a digital photograph of each layer as we build the part,” Godfrey explained. “And you can then compare that digital photograph to the CAD model … to identify any anomalies.” The goal is to avoid post-manufacture testing altogether. “When we take the part out of the machine,” Godfrey continued, “we want to avoid any X-rays or CT scanning, we want an actual in-process, quality assurance technology that says to the FAA, ‘that part is good, that part is bad.’ When it comes out of the machine, I have to know that. And we’re pretty close.”