America Makes announces winners of PBF-LB AM focused challenge
August 10, 2021
America Makes, Youngstown, Ohio, USA, in conjunction with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and GE Global Research (GEGR), have announced the awardees of the Open-source Additive Scanning Implementation Strategy (OASIS) Challenge which was launched in 2020.
The goal of the OASIS Challenge was to develop open-source computer codes and algorithms for optimising scan strategies as a method for advancing Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) Additive Manufacturing by improving the structure, surface and geometric properties of components produced by this process.
“Continuing the advancement of open-source software and machine platforms for laser-based powder bed Additive Manufacturing is a priority for our industry and AFRL, as the proprietary nature of commercial scan strategies inherently pose difficulties,” stated John Wilczynski, America Makes Executive Director. “The OASIS Challenge included learnings from three previous America Makes projects that were led by GEGR and built upon them to enable participants to devise innovative strategies, algorithms and methods to further advance this focus area.”
“All the winners of the OASIS Challenge developed new and well-synthesised open-source computer codes for outputting laser scan paths that will be instrumental in creating a body of work to be leveraged industry-wide,” Wilczynski added.
The following project teams were selected as the OASIS Challenge winners:
- 1st place: The Ohio State University (OSU) received $26.6K in funding
- 2nd place: OSU received $16.6K in funding
- 3rd place: Applied Optimization, Inc received $11.6K
- OSU was also selected for 1st Honorable Mention and 2nd Honorable Mention, receiving $6.6K in funding for each mention.