12 August 2026
- The specialised publication in the additive manufacturing and 3D printing sector highlights DISCMAM’s work on digital qualification for LPBF, bringing the project’s latest technical developments to a wider audience
The technical developments achieved within the DISCMAM project continue to reach the wider Additive Manufacturing community. Further extending the impact of the project’s results, Additive Manufacturing has published the article “Digitally Qualifying LPBF Parts for Defense Applications”, showcasing some of the work carried out by the consortium to advance quality assurance for on-site metal Additive Manufacturing.
The article brings together contributions from DISCMAM technical partners Danish Technological Institute (DTI), LORTEK, Fieldmade and Euler. It is authored by Dr Daniel F. S. Ferreira, Dr Juan Carlos Pereira, Dr Marta Muñiz, Dr Tobias Rønneberg and Dr Hildur Einarsdóttir, reflecting the collaborative research behind the project’s digital qualification developments.
Digital qualification for more reliable on-site manufacturing
How can the quality of an LPBF-produced part be assessed when conventional laboratory testing is not readily available? This is the central challenge explored in the article. Within DISCMAM, partners are investigating how the digital footprint generated during the manufacturing process can provide evidence of part quality, reducing reliance on resource-intensive physical testing when manufacturing closer to the point of need.
The work combines in-situ process monitoring, AI-based defect detection and a fast-response digital twin to transform manufacturing data into useful quality information. Based on this digital evidence, the approach supports the classification of produced parts according to different functional acceptance levels, helping to inform decisions on their potential use.
The methodology has been tested on two aluminium use cases, a Unimog compressor cover and a fuel filter housing, produced using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). The research also examines how process events detected during manufacturing relate to relevant indicators, including porosity, geometric deviation and surface properties.
These developments contribute to DISCMAM’s broader work towards more reliable and data-driven metal Additive Manufacturing, supporting quality assessment in portable production environments.
The approach has already been showcased by DISCMAM partners during AM Village 2026 in Albacete, Spain, where participants saw how digital quality assurance could help assess the quality of manufactured components beyond what can be determined through visual inspection alone.
The publication in Additive Manufacturing provides a closer look at the methodology, testing and results behind this work, as well as its potential contribution to the future qualification of LPBF-produced parts.
About Additive Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing is a specialised media brand focused on the advancement of industrial 3D printing. Its coverage explores the technologies, applications and trends driving additive manufacturing forward, from tooling and functional prototypes to end-use production parts.
Discover the complete technical article and results.