New Challenge Aims to Validate In-Situ Monitoring for Metal AM
In a bold step toward advancing quality control in metal additive manufacturing (AM), a new technology challenge is inviting companies to showcase their most mature in-situ monitoring and data analytics solutions. The ‘ASTRO-InSPIRE-ASTM Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge’ aims to spotlight commercially viable innovations that enable real-time quality assurance in industrial metal 3D printing.
This initiative is spearheaded by ASTRO America, in collaboration with ASTM International and FSU InSPIRE, and is designed to help shift metal AM quality control from post-process inspection to real-time, in-process assurance—a longstanding hurdle in the field.
The Challenge: From Post-Process to Proactive Monitoring
Currently, many metal AM processes rely on end-of-build inspection to identify defects. This post-process model means that flaws are often only discovered after a lengthy and costly build is complete, resulting in significant time and material waste. While some companies have developed their own sensor systems or adaptive “autocorrect” features to address this issue, adoption has been slow due to limited market validation, lack of standardization, and challenges in proving reliability at scale.
The ‘In-Situ Awareness Challenge’ seeks to overcome these barriers by identifying solutions that are not just technically impressive, but also commercially viable and ready for real-world deployment in high-stakes environments like aerospace and defense.
Technical Showcase With Industry Impact
The RFP process is open to companies with mature in-situ monitoring and analytics systems tailored for metal AM. From those applicants, up to five teams will be selected to participate in Phase 1, a hands-on demonstration period lasting three months.
These demonstrations will take place on industrial-grade metal 3D printers at Maritech Machine, ASTRO’s partner facility in Panama City, Florida. The environment is set to simulate a ‘Shark Tank meets Test Drive’ scenario – offering participants not only funding and national visibility, but also a rare opportunity to directly present to decision-makers from leading aerospace and defense organizations.
Following this phase, selected companies will present their findings, with up to two finalists advancing to deeper strategic discussions and potential future collaborations.
Call to Action
With a submission deadline of May 9th, the clock is ticking for companies eager to showcase their readiness to disrupt the status quo of metal AM quality control. The initiative not only promises technical validation in a high-profile setting but also represents a broader movement toward smarter, more data-driven manufacturing.
As real-time quality monitoring becomes a linchpin in the digital thread of advanced manufacturing, challenges like this one are critical for aligning innovation with industry demand.
For more information: www.astroa.org
