Replies to post #14231 on Sigma Labs Inc (SASI)

[r0und3r]

The reason that additive manufacturing is not widely used for metals if the issue with address quality. Sigma Labs PrintRite3D will help address those issue by collecting and analyzing data. Once PR3D is integrated into these machines and the quality standards are established the quality issue will be addressed. Ad adaption of 3D printing metals will skyrocket from there very quickly. The manufacturers of the machines probably won't be able to keep up with the demand.

As I stated before, I work in the aerospace industry, and I know first hand that large companies like GE and Pratt are spending a lot of money on R&D. Once they implement their processes and create standards they will work to place that technology into the shops of their tier-1 vendors in order to better predict and control their supply chain.

Once GE is confident that they have a finished product, they will not be the only source of steady revenue, they will demand that many of their suppliers adapt the same technology. They call the shots, that's how this industry works.

[monkeybuilt]

I believe so. However, the article failed to mention another significant buyout...Avio. Avio bought 10 Arcam machines. This give GE good access to both DMLS as well as EBM technology.

[jjsmith77]

stockmama22, you've been on a role with DD! Thanks again!

AMI: Focusing on technology, what is the biggest challenge (or challenges) in the additive manufacturing space today?

Mr. Gornet: Right now you’ve got two things. One is the incredible thirst for knowledge about these technologies and for people who are knowledgeable about them. The growth in sales of equipment, in particular the sales of the metals machines, has far outrun the number of knowledgeable people available to run them. The other thing is that most of these machines are what is called “open loop control.” We need to better understand the basic physics of 3D printing and implement control schemes so that the equipment is much more production-ready, where it won’t require someone with a master’s degree in engineering to get good parts off of these machines.

There is none other than PrintRite3D for a closed loop controller.

University of Louisville is part of America Makes and they also received an award this recent 2nd round:

“Development of Distortion Prediction and Compensation Methods for Metal Powder-Bed AM”
- GE Global Research
Led by GE Global Research, in partnership with 3DSim, Inc.; CDI Corporation; Honeywell Aerospace; Pan Computing LLC; Penn State University; United Technologies Research Center; and the University of Louisville, this project will benchmark and validate physics-based thermal distortion prediction and mitigation tools for metal powder-bed AM. The goal of this project is to achieve a significant reduction in development time enabled by physics-based distortion prediction and compensation tools. It is anticipated that this project will be foundational in establishing a standard set of AM design rules, distortion mitigation practices, and associated training for the entire AM supply base.

Tim Gornet, the Director of the RPC, runs a research center in consortium with many aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing companies and his facility is well equipped. We can trust that his statement on the need of a control scheme (closed loop control) is valid and paramount for AM to move forward.

RPC Consortium Partners:
https://louisville.edu/speed/rpc/consortium-partners.html

Facility Machines:
https://louisville.edu/speed/rpc/equipment-and-facilities/additive-manufacture-rapid-prototyping.html

https://louisville.edu/speed/rpc/equipment-and-facilities/cnc-machining.html

https://louisville.edu/speed/rpc/equipment-and-facilities/ancillary-equipment.html

Good post, stockmama22!