SCAMPER 'Scale-up of Additive manufacturing with Materials manipulation Processing for higher performance and rEducing waste in manufacturing and Repair

SCAMPER: Scale -up of Additive manufacturing with Materials manipulation Processing for higher performance and rEducing waste in manufacturing and Repair
Technology Strategy Board: Technology Inspired Collaborative Research and Development – High Value Manufacturing
TP number: 5684-44827

The key driver for SCAMPER is to reduce material waste for production and repair applications in the aerospace sector using Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques. AM via Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) significantly reduces material waste and enables direct manufacture of complex components in an expanded range of metallic alloys. SCAMPER will aim to improve LMD technology in terms of suitable materials, production rate and size of components for manufacture and repair applications.

To meet these objectives two areas of LMD technology will be developed: Diffractive Optical Elements (DOE's) and robotic manipulation software. DOE's will enable the controlled delivery of high laser powers which will allow deposition of the desired material microstructure whilst increasing deposition rates. The robotic manipulation software will enable complex parts to be generated using laser deposition delivered by robotic arms.

The total grant rewarded to the SCAMPER project is approximately £500k. The SCAMPER consortium brings together world leaders in DOE design in Laser Optical Engineering Ltd, AM software specialists Materialise Ltd, Robot supplier & system integrator Olympus Technologies Ltd and LMD Research & Development expertise from TWI Ltd. The project will be driven from end users EADS UK Ltd and Rolls Royce plc who will assist in exploitation of the LMD technology within the aerospace sector.