Customers in Additive Manufacturing
Our customer base can be grouped into three segments that overlap and support each other. In the emerging technology of additive manufacturing, all segments are aggressively working to advance AM as a reliable and certifiable process. Our instrument development and customers’ success is accelerated by both our system sales and research collaboration with customers from each segment.
Customer Comments
“Penn State University’s Center for Innovative Material Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D) has been collaborating closely with Stratonics for many years. We are excited about the potential that high temperature coaxial and lower-temperature thermal imaging offer for monitoring and control of the quality of metal-based Directed Energy Deposition processes. When coupled with material and thermal-mechanical models and control algorithms, collection and analysis of properly calibrated thermal images may lead to enhanced process understanding, improved processes, and real-time quality control.”
Dr. Ted Reutzel, Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University
“CCAT is involved in applications development and research for metals additive manufacturing. We have equipped our Optomec 850R LENS directed energy deposition additive system with a Stratonics ThermaViz two-camera pyrometer system to capture temperature data of the melt pool during the build process. The system has been invaluable in documenting the temperature and providing a visualization and analytical tool of the melt pool and surrounding area. Many of our customers have used the data we provide them to verify or improve computer models of the process, and to better understand the dynamics within the melt pool.”
Jeff Crandall, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, Inc.
Metals Additive Manufacturing Research and Applications Senior Engineer
“Optomec today announced availability of an enhanced ThermaViz® thermal imaging capability for its family of LENS (Laser Engineered Net Shaping) metal 3D Printers. ThermaViz, which is developed by Stratonics, Inc., is an advanced system that provides high-resolution, high accuracy thermal images showing temperature maps in and around the LENS melt pool. With new features and improved software, the enhanced ThermaViz system adds new user-friendly features that speed the LENS qualification process for repair and rework of high value metal components………….Using Stratonics ThermaViz system to monitor melt pool temperature and cooling rate, valuable process control information is available to the user. The ThermaViz capability is in production use at a number of LENS customer sites and measured results have correlated well with predicted results thereby reducing new material and process development time and cost. New features include the ability to measure temperatures as low as 600C, the ability to capture images at higher frame rates, and more.” Optomec, Inc.
Enhanced LENS Thermal Imaging Capabilities Introduced by Optomec
“Melt pool anomalies from pyrometer data can help predict defects in a build…….. Pyrometer and IR sensors are also useful for process control. Such technology is currently being used in places as the input to feedback loops to control delivered laser power in order to output a part with desired mechanical properties. Proper implementation of thermal data for characterization and control will be paramount to the widespread use of additive manufacturing in industry.” Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Cavs
Mississippi State University Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Cavs Incorporates Stratonics ThermaViz® Sensor Systems to Evaluate Melt Pool Anomalies and Heat Transfer during Laser Deposition Process PDF MSU summary article
