Real-Time Process Monitoring for DMLS

EOS offers EOSTATE MeltPool Monitoring as an add-on to the EOS M 290 DMLS (direct metal laser sintering) system. "This tool paves the way for complete part traceability as well as an automated surveillance and analysis of the melt pool during the DMLS build process - every spot, every layer, every part," said a company spokesperson. This high-performance online monitoring provides greater transparency of the complex build process. As such, EOSTATE MeltPool targets R&D and manufacturing customers with demanding quality requirements.

EOSTATE MeltPool observes the light emitted by the melt pool. Key elements are two photodiodes located on- and off-axis, a camera adapter, a specialized signal amplifier and spectral filters to separate process light from reflected laser light. EOSTATE MeltPool software offers automatic data error correction and real-time process visualization and evaluation. For data analysis, the EOSTATE MeltPool Analysis Toolbox visualizes data in 2-D or 3-D mappings and enables the evaluation of indication clusters. The tool works based on three advanced algorithms to obtain different data interpretations.

From the collected data, conclusions for the resulting quality in the final part can be drawn. For this, customers define corresponding parameters (MPM Parameters) using the open and flexible EOSTATE MeltPool Analysis Toolbox and can set their thresholds in alignment with their particular quality requirements. Live monitoring during the build process of a real part helps to automatically identify error indications based on these MPM parameters.

"The EOSTATE MeltPool Monitoring moves part quality assurance from post- to in-process, as such not only supporting better risk management, but also reducing time and costs for quality assurance and, as a consequence, overall costs per part," said the spokesperson.

For more information contact:

EOS of North America, Inc.

28970 Cabot Drive, Suite 700

Novi, MI 48377-2978

248-306-0143

info@eos-na.com

www.eos.info