Nikon SLM Solutions and Additive Assurance are combining their technologies to enhance the NXG series for series production of metal components with extended in-situ monitoring. As part of a strategic partnership, the AMiRIS Inside monitoring system will be embedded directly into the NXG platform. For the first time in a production system, a near-infrared-based tomography solution is intended to monitor all twelve lasers of a multi-laser LPBF system simultaneously and cover the entire build field.
AMiRIS Inside captures the emission behavior of the melt pool in real time and links this data to the respective layer and part geometry. Deviations in energy density, exposure path or powder recoating can thus be identified during the build process instead of only afterwards through destructive testing.
“From our experience using Nikon SLM Solutions’ and Additive Assurance’s equipment, we have come to realise that the true benefit will be in further integration of such technology leaders’ products together. This is the first great step in that direction and in particular, for the aerospace industry to give more confidence in large part production,” said Prof. Milan Brandt, Director of the Centre for Additive Manufacturing, RMIT University.
From a research perspective, this step is also significant. Milan Brandt, Director of the Centre for Additive Manufacturing at RMIT University, sees the closer integration of exposure and monitoring technology as a key building block for giving the aerospace sector, in particular, greater assurance when manufacturing large structures. Especially for components with multiple overlapping scan fields, it has so far been difficult to prove that all lasers are operating consistently.
“This partnership with Nikon SLM Solutions is a perfect fusion of two best-in-class technologies,” said Marten Jurg, CEO, Additive Assurance. “By embedding AMiRIS Inside with Nikon SLM’s market-leading NXG platform, we’ve put the customer’s need for reliability at the heart of the solution. It’s this strength that gives manufacturers confidence to innovate and expand their manufacturing boundaries.”
“By bringing together Additive Assurance’s advanced monitoring technology and our high-productivity multi-laser systems, we are redefining what’s possible in large-scale metal AM,” said Simon Merkt-Schippers, Vice President Research & Development, Nikon SLM Solutions. “This is the first time in the industry that 12 lasers are being observed simultaneously by a near-infrared optical tomography system — a milestone that underscores Nikon SLM Solutions’ leadership in industrializing additive manufacturing.”
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