Navigating additive manufacturing data in the GRANTA MI software. The database homepage shows a 'map' of underlying data structure, or 'schema', helping users to find the data they need.Granta says that the software can help engineering enterprises protect their investment and intellectual property in additive manufacturing research, build an in knowledge-base of AMprocesses, reduce time-to-market by avoiding wasted effort and support the qualification and certification of additively-manufactured parts.
3D printing can generate huge amounts of data about the structure, properties, and processing of the materials involved. MI:Additive Manufacturing can capture all relevant data, link it and make it available to any appropriately-authorized user, and ensures full traceability, the company says.
The process
A typical workflow using the software begins with the import of ‘logfiles’ directly from AM machines. The system automatically stores process parameters, extracts logged data for specific builds, links this information to supplier data on the batches of material used to make a part, and captures testing and inspection results. This data can feed into statistical analyses that determine mechanical properties. Properties can be exported to simulation codes and the results can be captured for use in optimizing part design and production.