The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) are collaborating to develop a model-based additive manufacturing (AM) qualification framework specifically tailored for the maritime industry.
This initiative aims to streamline the approval process for AM parts, significantly reducing the time and costs associated with traditional manufacturing methods, which typically rely on physical testing for verification. Dr. Gu Hai, ABS Vice President of Technology, highlighted the potential of model-based qualification to address current challenges in obtaining rapid approvals for AM parts.
The project aims to enhance the adoption of additive manufacturing in maritime applications by leveraging the digital nature of AM to move beyond conventional testing methods. It also seeks to refine the qualification framework based on evaluation results and establish guidelines for implementing these models.
ABS is partnering with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR) and Mencast Marine for this project. ASTAR’s Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) will focus on developing data-driven models to predict defect formation in AM parts, while Mencast Marine will provide real-world industrial scenarios to validate these models.
This collaboration underscores a significant step towards integrating advanced manufacturing technologies into the maritime industry, aiming for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and improved part reliability.
