UK software company, Valuechain has received £960k funding from UK Research & Innovation towards the development of artificial intelligence (AI) into its additive manufacturing (AM) production control software, DNAam.
Launched last year, DNAam was developed in collaboration with Airbus UK to standardise aerospace AM production processes and enable scalability in the aerospace sector. The investment from Innovate UK is set to further develop the platform using AI to optimise AM processes by analysing multiple data sources.
Valuechain CEO, Tom Dawes commented: “With this project, we are looking to be able to model big data captured from multiple sources such as ERP systems; AM plant, equipment and sensors; and material analysis software; to understand correlations between powder properties, plant/sensor parameters, part complexity and production builds and generate AM optimisation insights.”
The news also sees Valuechain build on its partnership with UK-based AM specialist, FDM Digital Solutions. FDM says Valuechain's technology has already enabled the company to streamline complex aerospace traceability and provide key business intelligence. The technology developed through this investment will be trialled inside FDM's soon to be launched, Innovation Centre before it is released for commercialisation.
Tom continued: “With the work we’re doing with our supply chain collaboration platform, we’re looking at the secure sharing of best practice knowledge and processes throughout complex multi-tier supply chains. This UKRI innovation funding and partnership with FDM, combined with some of the work we’re already doing will enable us to deploy AI to optimise and scale AM throughout the global advanced engineering sector.”
