HMUSA 2022 Conference: The Rules Still Apply to Additive Manufacturing

About the presentation
It’s impossible to sell production parts into the aerospace, medical, or automotive markets without the ability to quality assure those parts are manufactured to standards set by customers, such as the Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) or regulatory authorities including the FDA, FAA, or Nadcap. In terms of part quality, the method of production might’ve changed, but the rules still apply. Data carrying the engineer’s original intent travels from design, prototyping, materials, simulation to quality inspection (internal and external). This digital thread enables quality inspection, the key to industrializing additive manufacturing (AM). The nightmare scenario for an AM parts maker is to have a box of parts returned by a customer for being out of “spec” and not having the tools to understand why. This session covers the three main reasons why adhering to the rules is more challenging using AM methods, but certainly achievable. Conforming to quality assurance regulations using AM methods is more difficult when compared to subtractive processes.  This shouldn’t be a surprise, as the rules developed around subtractive manufacturing. The obvious problem is there’s no equivalent to inspection between discrete machining operations for AM. The rules still apply when it comes to producing and validating precision, mission-critical parts for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Quality assurance has been a roadblock for the AM industry in its evolution to become a serious contender in the precision parts arena. There are now a considerable number of advanced measurement and inspection technologies applied to AM from laser scanners to coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), structured light systems to computed tomography (CT) scanners. Some combination of these systems, along with automation capabilities, can readily address the part verification needs of AM users and finally lead to the industrialization of AM.

Registration
Powered by AMT and managed by GIE Media, The IMTS 2022 Conference features 69 different sessions you won’t want to miss so register today. Focused on a range of topics that include process innovation, plant operations, quality/inspection, and automation, The IMTS 2022 Conference addresses improving productivity; improving part quality; and developing a stable, competent workforce to lower the cost of manufacturing in the United States and create new levels of market demand.

Meet your presenter
Giles Gaskell has worked in the field of non-contact scanning for reverse engineering and inspection since 1997. He worked with many of Europe’s most prestigious design, engineering, and manufacturing companies before moving to the United States in 2004. Gaskell is a recognized subject matter expert and communicator in the field of 3D metrology and 3D scanning. He served as an adviser to the society of manufacturing engineers for the RAPID+TCT Conference and presented 3D scanning educational workshops each year at this conference from 2008 – 2022. Gaskell also serves as an advisor and 3D scanning track leader for the annual Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) conference. For six years from 2016 - 2022, presented 3D scanning workshops to a wide range of expert, intermediate, and novice users attending AMUG to advance their knowledge of commercial AM technologies. In 2021, Gaskell was awarded a DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operator) by the AMUG, recognizing an individual’s contribution to the AM industry. Awardees are selected based on their intent to advance either the industry, or the knowledge and skills of fellow industry professionals.

About the company
Hexagon is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software, and autonomous technologies. We’re putting data to work to boost efficiency, productivity, quality, and safety across industrial, manufacturing, infrastructure, public sector, and mobility applications. Part of HexagonAB, our technologies shape production and people-related ecosystems to become increasingly connected and autonomous. Hexagon’s manufacturing intelligence division provides solutions that use data from design, engineering, production, and metrology to make manufacturing smarter.