Phase3D has partnered with Wietech 3D to expand access to in-situ inspection for metal additive manufacturing, bringing objective, layer-by-layer measurement into more metal 3D printing environments.
The partnership combines Phase3D’s Fringe Inspection™ technology with Wietech 3D’s experience in industrial additive manufacturing. Together, the companies will help manufacturers improve additive manufacturing quality control, investigate build anomalies, support process qualification, and gain greater visibility into metal powder bed fusion processes.
As metal additive manufacturing moves from development toward production, manufacturers need to understand more than whether a finished component meets specification. They also need reliable evidence of what happened during the build.
In-situ inspection provides that evidence while manufacturing is taking place.
Why In-Situ Inspection Matters in Metal Additive Manufacturing
Traditional metal additive manufacturing quality assurance relies heavily on inspection after a build is complete. CT scanning, dimensional inspection, destructive testing, and other post-build techniques remain important, however, by the time these inspections take place, the machine time, material, and labor required to manufacture the component have already been committed.
In-situ inspection adds another source of information by measuring the additive manufacturing process as the component is produced.
Phase3D’s Fringe Inspection™ uses structured-light measurement to capture high-resolution, three-dimensional data from the powder bed throughout a metal powder bed fusion build. Rather than relying solely on images or indirect machine signals, engineers receive quantitative measurements showing how individual layers develop during production.
The result is a traceable, layer-by-layer record of the metal additive manufacturing process.
Layer-by-Layer Metal 3D Printing Inspection
Metal powder bed fusion builds can run for hours or even days. If an anomaly develops early in the process, discovering it only during post-build inspection can make the problem expensive to investigate. Layer-by-layer metal 3D printing inspection moves visibility closer to the point at which an event occurs.
Fringe Inspection™ measures the build surface throughout production, giving engineers data they can use to identify and investigate changes in the powder bed.
This can provide greater insight into:
- Powder spreading behavior
- Recoater interactions
- Build anomalies
- Surface deviations
- Process stability
- Changes between layers
- Build-to-build variation
Instead of simply determining that a finished part has a defect, engineers can investigate when an anomaly first appeared and how it developed throughout the build.
Additive Manufacturing Process Monitoring vs. Measurement
Process monitoring has become increasingly important as manufacturers seek greater control over metal additive manufacturing, but not all additive manufacturing process monitoring technologies provide the same type of information.
Many monitoring systems collect images, sensor signals, or other process data that indicate something may have changed during production. Phase3D approaches the problem through measurement.
Fringe Inspection™ uses structured-light metrology to create calibrated 3D measurements of the powder bed. This allows engineers to quantify characteristics of the build surface rather than relying solely on visual interpretation.Measurement creates data that can be compared across layers, builds, machines, and process conditions.
Supporting Additive Manufacturing Quality Control and Qualification
As metal additive manufacturing moves into more demanding production applications, manufacturers need repeatable evidence that their processes remain stable.
In-situ inspection can provide an additional source of objective process data for additive manufacturing quality control and qualification.
Fringe Inspection™ data can support:
- Build anomaly detection
- Process development and optimization
- Root-cause analysis
- Machine and process qualification
- Production monitoring
- Process repeatability studies
- Correlation with post-build inspection
- Understanding relationships between process behavior and final part quality
This does not necessarily replace post-build inspection.
Instead, in-situ inspection provides information from inside the manufacturing process that can complement downstream inspection and help engineers understand why a particular result occurred.
Wietech 3D Brings Industrial Additive Manufacturing Expertise
Wietech 3D has worked in additive manufacturing since 2006, helping organizations identify applications, integrate additive technologies, and develop manufacturing strategies.
Its experience spans industries including aerospace, energy, government, automotive, medical, electronics, and industrial manufacturing, with technologies covering both polymer and metal additive manufacturing.
Through its partnership with Phase3D, Wietech 3D can now bring in-situ metal additive manufacturing inspection into that broader production environment.
Customers can combine additive manufacturing equipment and application expertise with objective layer-by-layer measurement of the manufacturing process.
Improving Visibility in Metal Powder Bed Fusion
The partnership reflects a broader change taking place across industrial additive manufacturing. The question is no longer simply:
Can we print this part?
Increasingly, manufacturers need to answer:
Can we understand, control, and qualify the process used to produce it?
For laser powder bed fusion and other metal powder bed processes, answering that question requires better information from inside the build. Fringe Inspection™ creates a three-dimensional record of the powder bed throughout production, allowing engineers to investigate where anomalies occurred, how they developed, and how the process changed over time.
Combined with Wietech 3D’s additive manufacturing expertise, this gives manufacturers another tool for moving from process development toward repeatable production.
Phase3D and Wietech 3D: Advancing Metal AM Inspection
Phase3D and Wietech 3D share a focus on helping manufacturers move additive manufacturing into increasingly demanding industrial applications.
Through this partnership, manufacturers will gain greater access to metal additive manufacturing inspection technology alongside the equipment, engineering expertise, and support required to integrate it into real production environments.
As metal additive manufacturing continues to scale, understanding what happens inside every build will become increasingly important. Phase3D and Wietech 3D are working to make that understanding measurable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in-situ inspection in metal additive manufacturing?
In-situ inspection measures the additive manufacturing process while a component is being produced. In metal powder bed fusion, Phase3D’s Fringe Inspection™ captures calibrated 3D measurements of the powder bed throughout the build, creating a layer-by-layer record of the manufacturing process.
What is metal additive manufacturing process monitoring?
Metal additive manufacturing process monitoring involves collecting information about a build while manufacturing is taking place. Depending on the technology, this can include images, machine signals, sensor data, or direct measurements of the build surface.
How does Fringe Inspection™ inspect a metal additive manufacturing build?
Fringe Inspection™ uses structured-light measurement to generate high-resolution 3D data from the powder bed throughout a build. This allows engineers to quantify changes in the build surface and investigate when and where anomalies occur.
Can in-situ inspection improve additive manufacturing quality control?
In-situ inspection provides additional process data that can support anomaly detection, process development, qualification, root-cause analysis, and production monitoring. It can also help engineers connect events during a build with results found during post-build inspection.
Does in-situ inspection replace CT or post-build inspection?
Not necessarily. In-situ inspection provides information about what happened during manufacturing, while CT, dimensional inspection, and other post-build techniques evaluate the finished component. Using the two together can provide a more complete understanding of the manufacturing process and final part.
What is the difference between in-situ monitoring and in-situ inspection?
Monitoring systems commonly collect images, sensor signals, or other indicators of process behavior. In-situ inspection can go further by producing quantitative measurements of the build itself. Phase3D’s Fringe Inspection™ uses structured-light metrology to create calibrated 3D measurements of the powder bed.
Why are Phase3D and Wietech 3D partnering?
The partnership combines Wietech 3D’s industrial additive manufacturing expertise with Phase3D’s in-situ inspection technology. The goal is to give manufacturers greater access to objective, layer-by-layer measurement as they develop, qualify, and scale metal additive manufacturing processes.
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