EOS and MTU Partner for Additive Manufacturing Quality Control

EOS, a provider of additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, and MTU Aero Engines, a German engine manufacturer, are cooperating to develop quality assurance measures for metal engine components using additive manufacturing. The two companies, which have been working collaboratively for years, have signed a framework agreement for the joint strategic development of their technologies.

The first result of the joint endeavors is the optical tomography (OT) developed by MTU, a complement to the modular EOS monitoring portfolio. In addition to several sensors that monitor the general system status, the camera-based OT technology controls the exposure process and melting characteristics of the material at all times to ensure optimum coating and exposure quality, the companies say. The OT solution enables a more holistic approach to quality control in metal additive manufacturing by enabling layer-by-layer and part-by-part quality control during the manufacturing process rather than downstream.

According to the two companies, their efforts are furthering the qualified use of additive manufacturing in aerospace engineering and reducing costs. The system settings and process parameters are constantly monitored in the ongoing manufacturing process on EOS systems, helping to ensure the best system and manufacturing process conditions for maximum component quality, the companies say.