Phase3D Partners with Materialise

Phase3D, a Chicago-based startup creating real-time inspection technology for powder-based additive manufacturing (AM), announced a collaboration with Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing software and service solutions. The companies collaborated to integrate Phase 3D’s solution Project Fringe, a state-of-the-art in-situ inspection system for AM, into Materialise Process Control software solution.

3D printing creates parts through a layer-by-layer process and can be a time intensive and expensive technology. Materialise Process Control allows AM users to analyze and correlate layer data from the 3D printing process enabling them to identify defective parts before they are sent to post-processing and quality inspection. It provides access to technology-agnostic process monitoring for metal AM and makes it possible to combine data from different monitoring systems. Phase3D’s solution, Project Fringe, will help AM users gain unparalleled insights into their 3D printing process and automate quality control.

Project Fringe is a proprietary structured light technology that measures any powder-based AM process. The real-time data creates detailed measurements for where and when a print anomaly occurs. Project Fringe presents data in 3D, enabling users to see a multitude of print anomalies in real-time. The solution allows customers to be confident about their part quality or stop the 3D printing process if a defect has been detected, saving machine time and money

Niall O’Dowd, Founder and CEO of Phase3D says, “We are excited to offer Project Fringe, our flagship hardware/software inspection technology, to Materialise customers through this collaboration. Real-time inspection using rapid height measurement technology can reduce the cost per part in 3D printing.”

Bart Van der Schueren, CTO of Materialise adds, “Materialise Process Control uses artificial intelligence to automate quality control, helping our customers save significant time and money. Through collaborations with Phase3D, AM users benefit from a technology-agnostic innovation that offers unparalleled insights into their 3D printing process. AM users benefit from a technology-agnostic innovation that offers unparalleled insights into their 3D printing process for continuous improvement.”

Phase3D collaboration with Materialise allows their customers to combine Project Fringe’s in-situ inspection technology with Materialise Process Control as part of CO-AM, Materialise’s end-to-end software platform for 3D printing, and as a standalone software solution.