America Makes launches $5M QTIME project seeking to revolutionize inspection methods for complex additive manufacturing parts.
America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) announce a new open project call worth $5 million that could address longstanding inspection challenges in additive manufacturing.
The project, called Quality Test and Inspection Methods Expediency (QTIME), targets non-destructive inspection techniques for two specific 3D printing processes – laser powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition. The initiative, funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing Technology Office, is set to explore both in-situ and ex-situ applications for inspecting large and complex parts.
According to the announcement, additive manufacturing continues to face challenges in quality determination, especially for large and complex components. Up to five awards are anticipated from the project call.
“Industry and government stakeholders have clearly identified the need for trusted, efficient inspection techniques,” says Ben DiMarco, technology transition director at America Makes. We’re not sure yet which specific technologies will be selected.
If successful, the initiative claims it could reduce inspection costs by more than 50% over current methods, particularly for materials like Ti 6Al-4V, Inconel 718, and Stainless Steels.
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The RFP splits into three topics: inspection of large AM parts, inspection of complex parts with small internal features, and an Industry Transition Team. Submissions are due by June 30, 2025.
