A new project, DILAPRO, focuses on transforming the approach to planning, manufacturing, and certification of complex 3D-printed products. The project aims, among other things, to ensure the efficiency and quality of 3D printing processes and to reduce the carbon footprint.
The three-year development project, DILAPRO, led by the Danish Technological Institute, is conducted in collaboration with 11 Danish and European partners. The software project particularly focuses on the production of advanced components that are to be produced and used directly on-site, where traditional methods of testing and certification are not practically possible.
”With its combination of quality control, efficiency, and sustainability, DILAPRO will be a major step forward for 3D printing, also enabling the creation of reliable products faster and with a smaller carbon footprint,” says Christina Moeslund Zeuthen, project manager at the Danish Technological Institute.
Quality, Carbon Footprint, and Price
The DILAPRO project consists of two key elements, DILAFACT and DILACERT, which together will ensure quality and efficiency of laser-based 3D printing to enable faster implementation.
DILAFACT will operate by creating a digital twin, allowing monitoring of the production process in real-time, and thus detecting and responding to any faults early in the process to minimize waste.
”Additionally, DILAFACT will assist with the planning process,” explains Christina Moeslund Zeuthen and continues: ”The software will allow the user to adjust parameters or change the manufacturing method and on that basis predict how the changes will affect the finished product. It will also help determine the ideal balance between quality, carbon footprint, and price.”
Streamlining the Path to Market
The DILACERT software can certify the printed product – while it is being manufactured. This means that it can reduce the time before the product can be used or enter the market by weeks or months. Certification can be done on location, which is particularly useful if there is an urgent need for a reliable solution and a long way to external certification. This could, for example, be a damaged machine part on an oil rig or in a military operation.
The DILAPRO project, short for ’Digital Laser Production’, is supported by Horizon Europe and runs from 2024 to 2027.
Photo: Danish Technological Institute