A new startup company from Iceland offers an advanced AI tool for metal 3D printing.
Euler, a spin-off from the Danish Technical University, tackled a problem they observed with many LPBF systems: data but no analysis.
Metal 3D printing involves layer-by-layer formation, like most 3D print processes, but there’s a difference: metal 3D prints are typically used for production purposes. This means that each and every part produced using LPBF must meet the required quality standards. That’s quite different from what occurs in a prototyping environment.
To achieve that, many LPBF systems include an array of sensors that record activity during print jobs. Typically, these are analyzed after the print to verify part quality, but sometimes there is real-time analysis.
Euler goes after what they believe is under-analyzed sensor data: images. Many LPBF systems do capture images of each layer, but rarely are they properly analyzed. That’s where Euler’s tools come in.
They do offer a free tool to view such images in an easy manner, even remotely. This allows operators to more quickly review a print job in detail, examining any layers that may have been challenging.
However, their main product goes beyond mere inspection. Instead, it monitors the images as they appear in real time. They can detect defects in real time, but there’s more. Their system can predict problems ahead of when they would appear.
They use a machine learning system that’s been trained on thousands of previous print jobs. It is able to use the prior layer results to predict what might happen in the next dozen or so layers. If something is going to go sideways, it can immediately alert operators who then might be able to take action to recover the job. Either that or they can stop the job, saving valuable machine time and materials.
The savings in some cases can be significant. Metal 3D print jobs can be quite lengthy and consume very expensive metal powder, so saving even a few jobs might be enough to offset the cost of the tool.
Euler seems to have spent considerable time making their system easy to use. It appears they’ve spent some time with actual workshops to directly address workflow issues. For example, the tool includes a centralized way to collect operator comments on a job, something that would be important in a large shop with many participants.
Metal 3D printing has been around for quite a while, but with tools like those from Euler, the ability to do it successfully has never been better.
Via Euler
