Sciaky awarded research funding from NASA
June 11, 2021
Sciaky, Inc, a Chicago, Illinois, USA subsidiary of Phillips Service Industries, Inc., has received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from NASA. The company plans to use the award to enhance its wire-based Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology, which it refers to as Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM), with new machine-learning algorithms that will automatically identify and eliminate defects with titanium (Ti6Al4V) AM parts.
The machine-learning algorithms will utilise Sciaky’s patented Interlayer Real-time Imaging and Sensing System, also known as IRISS®, to monitor titanium deposition, identify anomalies, and fix them. These adaptive control features may help manufacturers deliver consistent results, from the first part to the last.
Reportedly the most widely-scalable metal AM solution in the industry (in terms of work envelope), Sciaky’s PBF-EB systems can produce parts ranging from 203 mm to 5.79 m in length, with gross deposition rates up to 11.34 kg of metal per hour.
“Sciaky is proud to partner with NASA and enhance process control for titanium 3D printing,” stated Scott Phillips, president and CEO. “This new capability will further solidify why EBAM [PBF-EB] is at the forefront of industrial Additive Manufacturing advancements.”
