InfiniAM Sonic acoustic process monitoring software has been launched by Renishaw to complement the company’s existing InfiniAM suite of additive manufacturing (AM) monitoring tools. The software enables engineers to detect acoustic events within the AM build chamber and turn this data into useful information about build quality. The software is said to be the first of its kind in the AM industry.

Renishaw’s InfiniAM Sonic is installed into the RenAM 500Q system as a factory-fit option and includes four acoustic energy sensors to detect vibration in the build. These sensors detect minute vibrations and collect sound waves so that they can be heard, viewed and analysed. Using four high-frequency sensors in different locations results in a slight time difference, due to the speed of sound. The software uses this time difference to triangulate the position of noise on the build plate. In addition, the software presents a level of certainty regarding where the noise occurred, and the magnitude. This data can then be combined graphically with other sensor data to build a comprehensive view of the part and the conditions at time of build.
The software works alongside InfiniAM Central and InfiniAM Spectral, which provide improved understanding of build quality, increased confidence in the build process and accelerated process development, reports Renishaw. A mobile app, InfiniAM Central, is also available, so that users can receive notifications on their build process in near real-time.
David Ewing, AM product manager at Renishaw, says: “The rapid heating and cooling that takes place during an AM build leads to residual stress in the part. While each laser weld results in a small amount of stress, residual stress can build up within the part, and if it increases past the strength of the metal it may lead to a fracture in the support material or part itself.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

Based in Glenrothes, subcontractor Euro Precision has been eager to minimise the number of failures that might occur in large batches by taking action against faults at final inspection.

To achieve this goal, the company created a team of specialists that looked at the issues, with the task of clearly identifying any problems and coming up with corrective actions. As a result, Euro Precision has recently invested heavily in equipment such as CNC milling centres, a Mitutoyo CMM, a laser marker and an IM-7500 image dimension measurement system from Keyence. Within a short timeframe, final inspection failures were reduced to just 0.8%.
The IM-7500 enabled Euro Precision to check parts much quicker and with greater accuracy. This capability has saved the company a substantial amount of money by cutting inspection times, while improving quality levels on all components. Time savings have also been achieved through the machine being straightforward to operate and program, enabling inspectors to check a higher volume of projects within much shorter timescales.
Mark Ramsay, production manager at Euro Precision, explains: “The Keyence IM-7500 machine has proved to be excellent for our operators because it is easy to use, extremely precise and can check parts very quickly. For these reasons, we’ve been able to program the machine to minimise the risk of batch failures by checking more parts at a much faster pace and far more accurately.
“Selecting Keyence equipment was a new venture for us, but as soon as we had the demonstration and tested a few of our parts on the IM-7500, it was a no brainer; we had to have that machine,” he adds. “The unit has more than paid for itself in just 10 months, and if we could have many more of these around the workplace we would do so in a heartbeat.”
For further information www.keyence.co.uk