MX3D, an Amsterdam-based company that builds robotic metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems, has received a Certificate of Qualification from DNV at the Additive Manufacturing Criticality 3 (AMC3) level for its wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) facility. The certificate was issued under the DNV-ST-B203 standard and applies to metal parts used in maritime, defense, and energy applications.
Dr. Sastry Kandukuri, Global Practice Lead on Additive Manufacturing at DNV’s Technology Centre in Oslo, Norway, said MX3D is “the first company globally to achieve DNV certification at AMC 3 level for DED-Arc/WAAM technology.” He said DNV looks forward to continuing its collaboration with MX3D as AM adoption grows across the sectors.
What the AMC3 Level Covers
AMC3 is the highest level in DNV’s additive manufacturing certification. MX3D’s facility, software, and WAAM processes were audited to check whether they can reliably produce parts for high-load structural applications.
The process involved testing, material validation, and quality checks on MX3D’s robotic systems and its MetalXL software. Gijs van der Velden, CEO of MX3D, said the certification confirms that the company’s technology and processes meet the quality and safety standards required to produce highly critical metal parts.
MX3D says the certification supports its production of large, heavy metal parts with WAAM as an alternative to traditional forging and casting. According to the company, engineering teams can now use the speed, design flexibility, and material efficiency of WAAM for these components.
Third-Party Qualification for Critical Metal AM Parts
DNV has tackled this certification barrier for additive manufacturing before. In 2017, DNV, then operating as DNV GL, entered a non-binding agreement with Aurora Labs to develop a certification framework for metal parts made on Aurora Labs’ printers for the oil and gas, power, and maritime industries. DNV GL’s Brice Le Gallo said adequate qualification and certification was a strong factor in the slow adoption of 3D printing in those sectors. Aurora Labs’ agreement set out to develop a framework, while MX3D has received a completed certificate.
In 2018, AML Technologies became the first company to receive AM facility qualification from Lloyd’s Register for its wire arc facility. Managing Director Andy Sales said the certification would help provide customers assurance for their part approval and qualification needs. Like MX3D, AML had its wire arc facility qualified by a third-party body, though it requested its assessment with respect to a Lloyd’s Register and TWI framework for powder bed fusion parts.
Both cases tie wider use of metal AM in these industries to third-party qualification. MX3D’s certificate provides it for WAAM at DNV’s highest level.
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Featured image shows Robotic large-scale 3D printing. Image via MX3D.
