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Engineering Systems for Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing (AM) uses digital designs to fabricate complex, three-dimensional products that are built up, layer-by-layer. The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Engineering Laboratory (EL) develops comprehensive measurement science and supports standards development for AM, with the goal of helping U.S. manufacturers leverage this technology. EL has developed several testbeds for AM that provide unique measurement capabilities, controls, and datasets to promote advancements in additive manufacturing.
The Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed, pictured above, is a custom-made 3D metal printer used to study the layer-by-layer printing process in depth. One of several testbeds developed by EL, this car-sized testbed enables NIST researchers to help manufacturers improve "recipes" for quality parts and assemblies.
Promoting Adoption of Additive Manufacturing
The NIST Engineering Laboratory (EL) promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology for engineered systems in ways that enhance economic security and improve quality of life. EL’s AM research explores barriers to adoption of additive manufacturing, such as surface quality, part accuracy, fabrication speed, material properties, and computational requirements. To mitigate these challenges, the program focuses on material characterization, real-time control of additive manufacturing processes, qualification methodologies, and system integration. We developed several testbeds for AM that provide unique measurement capabilities, controls, and datasets to study these challenges and advance AM.
EL's Additive Manufacturing Efforts
Explore below to learn about EL's additive manufacturing efforts, including our programs, projects, instruments, tools, and testbeds for AM. Navigate to the AM overview page for information about NIST’s broader work in this space.
Programs/Projects
Click on the plus icon (+) below to learn about our programs & projects.
Measurement Science for Additive Manufacturing
The Measurement Science for Additive Manufacturing is a program in the Engineering Laboratory featuring several projects primarily focused on metals-based additive manufacturing applications and technologies. The program aims to develop and deploy advances in measurement science that will enable rapid design-to-product transformation through: material characterization; in-process sensing, monitoring, and model-based optimal control; performance qualification of materials, machines, processes, and parts; and end-to-end digital implementation and analysis of additive manufacturing processes and systems. Read more.
Program Manager: Jason Fox
Fundamental Measurements for Metal AM
To instill confidence and aid adoption of AM as a viable technology for production in critical applications, a strong understanding of how to measure, characterize, and qualify AM parts, processes, and feedstock materials is required. Experts in powder testing and characterization, surface topography, defect detection, x-ray computed tomography, dimensional characterization, instrumented indentation, destructive melt pool characterization, and laser material interactions are working together to produce a broad range of products. Read more.
Project Leader: Jason Fox
Advanced Machines, Monitoring, and Control for AM
Despite its potential, widespread adoption of AM technology faces two major obstacles - inconsistent part quality and low production efficiency. This project will address these challenges by developing and implementing advanced AM control and monitoring methods and demonstrate their positive impact on enhancing part quality and efficiency by integrating these innovations into AM machines/testbeds. Read more.
Project Leader: Ho Yeung
Metrology for AM Model Validation
Multi-physics and data-driven models are necessary to simulate, study, and optimize metal additive manufacturing processes, such as powder bed fusion (PBF) and directed energy deposition (DED). This project, along with a large number of collaborators across NIST and outside research organizations, aims to provide trusted measurement data for the purpose of AM model validation, primarily disseminated through the Additive Manufacturing Benchmark Test Series (AM-Bench). Read more.
Project Leader: Brandon Lane
Advanced Informatics and Artificial Intelligence for Additive Manufacturing
Advancements in additive manufacturing are progressively driven by digital technologies, with advanced sensors and measurements informing increasingly complex modeling and simulation paradigms and playing an important role in part design, production, and qualification. Advanced informatics are providing new opportunities to harness trusted data and information to acquire knowledge and develop actionable assessments in complex AM systems and environments. Read more.
Project Leader: Paul Witherell
Data Management and Fusion for AM Industrialization
The maturation of additive manufacturing into an industrialization (wide-scale production) technology requires an expanded notion of integration of both AM systems and AM data. AM data integration and analytics need to scale up as well to automate workflows and improve decision-making across the AM supply chain. Read more.
Project Leader: Yan Lu
Additive Manufacturing with Cement-Based Materials
Additive Manufacturing with concrete, also known as 3-D Concrete Printing (3DCP) and more recently Additive Construction (AC) with concrete, is an emerging and rapidly evolving technology in the construction industry. This approach to concrete construction has the potential to change the way cementitious materials are used to create infrastructure components. Read more.
Project Leader: Shawn Platt
Tools and Instruments
Click on the plus icon (+) below to learn about our tools & instruments.
Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT)
The NIST Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT) is a fully custom, open-platform laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) system to advance monitoring, controls, and metrology research. In addition to research specific to AM, the system employs a suite radiometric calibration and measurement instruments that enable the Temperature and Emittance of Melts, Powders, and Solids (TEMPS). Learn more about AMMT by watching the video below and by visiting the "Additive Manufacturing Metrology Testbed (AMMT)" website.
Additive Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC)
The NIST Additive Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC) is a state-of-the-art facility for conducting measurement science research for metals-based additive manufacturing. Learn more.
Fundamentals of Laser-Matter Interaction (FLaMI)
The FLaMI is a laser powder bed fusion testbed that allows for direct control of the laser processing parameters with synchronized, high-speed measurements and allows for a variety of custom instrumentation to observe the AM process (website coming soon).
Laser Processing Diffraction Testbed (LPDT)
The LPDT is portable testbed capable of conducting AM experiments under high-energy Synchrotron X-ray, which enables simultaneous in-situ measurement of temperature and phase evolution of the AM material (website coming soon).
Powder Spreading Testbed (PST)
The spreading of powder is an integral part of powder bed fusion-based additive manufacturing technologies. The PST is a testbed for observing and quantifying the spreading process with high-speed imaging and other instrumentation. Learn more about the PST by watching the video below (website coming soon).
Contacts
EL Additive Manufacturing Program Coordinator
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(301) 975-4352