Material Inspection for 3D Printing
Ensure the safety and quality of materials and the reliability of components
Material Inspection for 3D Printing
Ensure the safety and quality of materials and the reliability of components
Material Inspection for 3D Printing
Ensure the safety and quality of materials and the reliability of components
Material Inspection for 3D Printing
Ensure the safety and quality of materials and the reliability of components
3D Inspections
Inspection is a prerequisite for product safety
Materials quality and the reliability of the components are essential requirements for the industrial use of 3D printing. This includes knowledge on the integrity, materials properties and the composition of the material used in the printed parts.
The quality of materials and the reliability of components are essential requirements for the industrial use of 3D printing. This includes information on the integrity, properties, and composition of the materials used in the printed parts.
In additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, components are produced layer by layer in a process similar to printing. The goal is to achieve a printed geometry that closely resembles the component’s final shape, thereby reducing the need for post-processing steps. The manufacturing process offers great freedom in design and mechanical engineering. This enables the use of complex geometries and advanced materials in non-traditional ways, resulting in exceptional properties.
Today, 3D printing has become an established manufacturing technology in many industries known for their specialized characteristics and extreme reliability under demanding conditions, such as aerospace, medicine, and the automotive industry. As the technology becomes more widespread, AM is also making its way into traditional industrial manufacturing and workshops.
Regardless of the industry or application, it is important to ensure that the parts you manufacture and the processes you use are safe and meet the relevant requirements.
Reliable Auditing for Innovative Minds
In many cases, AM parts must meet the same requirements as parts produced using traditional techniques. It is also extremely important to examine data on the reproducibility of equipment, processes, and materials when developing and certifying products and processes. With regard to safe use, handling, and logistics, specific regulations concerning powders, raw materials, waste, and recycling must be taken into account.
An accredited and experienced organization like DEKRA can provide impartial and accurate inspections and expertise that you can rely on at every stage of your operations.
Thanks to our diverse range of services and the industries we serve, DEKRA is a global partner in the fields of object printing and safe 3D printing.
DEKRA's Projects and Expertise in 3D Printing
Design and Technology
We have served as a development partner to a major player in the AM industry in addressing challenges related to determining material properties. Drawing on our inspection experience and utilizing modern inspection technology, we were able to quickly build new expertise, procedures, and data on elastic moduli for the design of medical components. This helped our client resolve a critical manufacturing challenge and increase confidence in the inspection results.
Prototype Manufacturing and Commercialization
Sometimes, 3D-printed parts and prototypes can be difficult to inspect using traditional material testing equipment. In one customer project, we worked with the customer to customize testing equipment capable of verifying the mechanical strength of AM-printed lattice structure prototypes. A particular challenge here was that the prototypes had already been printed in advance without any specific considerations regarding testing. It is important to involve an experienced testing laboratory early in the project. DEKRA can support you in selecting the right testing methods tailored to your needs, helping you save time and money.
Production
We customized our production process for specific tensile tests for an AM customer, with production volumes amounting to several thousand test samples per year. In addition, we coordinated the inspection to run in parallel with our standard testing routines and equipment to offer a solution at a competitive price and with high efficiency. The Lean process was designed to cover logistics and data transfer, as well as the external laboratory that handles the inspection routines for the customer’s AM production unit.
After-Sales Service and Maintenance
Through VOC emission testing, as well as migration and sensory testing in accordance with food contact requirements, we assess the suitability of certain materials for consumer goods in specific markets.
Why DEKRA?
- Core expertise in materials inspection and expertise
- Agility and Lean Delivery
- Accuracy and Repeatability
- High capacity
- Modern Inspection Technology
- A broad industrial base and a global service network
- Accredited Laboratories
- Reliability and Traceability