TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY In-situ Monitoring for Volumetric Additive Manufacturing

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its in situ monitoring system for volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM).

Background:

LLNL’s breakthrough Volumetric Additive Manufacturing (VAM) technology takes computed tomography (CT) “views” of 3D objects from multiple angles, and projects these images into a photosensitive resin. The resin cures at points where the accumulated, absorbed light energy exceeds the gel thresholds, and when the remaining liquid resin is drained, it produces 3D objects within seconds or minutes, much faster than traditional layer-by-layer 3D printing techniques. Since this revolutionary manufacturing process can 3D prints components in one step, real-time monitoring of the process is critical to increase reliability and to avoid product waste.  Conventional monitoring relies on high refractive index or scattering property change of resin materials upon polymerization.  However, for resins with low refractive index change, these conventional imaging methods fail due to low contrast.  There is a need for imaging methods that can visualize VAM processes of low refractive index-changing materials.

Description:

A detailed non-proprietary overview of the technology/solution/innovation/expertise.  Describe the invention. How does this invention address those gaps or improvements or what problem does it solve as discussed above?

The approach is to use quantitative phase imaging (QPI) using a common-path phase-shifting interferometry technique.  A sequence of four phase shifts with an increment of π/2 between unscattered reference beam and scattered sample beam are imparted by a spatial light modulator.  A quantitative phase image is retrieved from four raw intensity images.  QPI is a highly sensitive imaging method that provides high contrast image even for even with slight refractive index changes.  Phase contrast imaging is also used to monitor the onset and progression of the VAM process.

Advantages/Benefits: 

• Value Proposition:  Better qualification and certification of VAM printed parts
• Real-time in situ monitoring of the VAM process
• Possible application to other vat polymerization AM processes.

Potential Applications: 

• Volumetric Additive Manufacturing
• Potentially other vat polymerization processes

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development:  TRL 3

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's in-situ monitoring process for volumetric additive manufacturing should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's in-situ monitoring process for volumetric additive manufacturing.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention:   IL-13907