WAAM3D has been highlighted as a Key Innovator by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar. This is as a result of our work with Cranfield University in creating multi-material add-on software for WAAM systems.
The Innovation Radar is part of the MULTI-FUN project, funded by the European Commission under Horizon 2020. The programme aims to make information about EU-funded innovations from high-quality projects visible and accessible to the public via the EU's Innovation Radar platform.
As well as identifying high-potential innovations and innovators, Innovation Radar, measures the market readiness of collaborative projects and demand from industry for them. Our joint work, alongside Cranfield University, in multi-material add-on software for WAAM systems has been awarded ‘market ready’ status by Innovation Radar. This is because the software is deemed technologically mature and there is high commitment from the providers to bring it to market. The solution has also been acknowledged as addressing the needs of existing markets.
Crucially, the software works straightway with our new plasma-based end-effector, which comes with a twin-wire setup by default. The two wire-feeders can be used to supply the same wire, or different alloys, thus upgrading RoboWAAM® to multi-material capability.
Our CEO and co-founder of WAAM3D, Dr Filomeno Martina, comments: “We are very pleased that our work with Cranfield University is being acknowledged in this area of WAAM. These are exciting times for WAAM and its potential for transforming large-scale metal component 3D printing is only just beginning to be seen in real-world applications.”
Details about this innovation will appear shortly on the European Commission's Innovation Radar platform, helping build on the information and data already gathered by independent experts involved in reviewing ongoing research and innovation projects funded by the European Commission.