AMNOW Experience with Data Acquisition & Analysis

Kevin Slattery, D.Sc.,

The Barnes Global Advisors (TBGA)

30-May-2023

Supporting Army readiness through a robust 

digital additive manufacturing supply chain

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release. Distribution is Unlimited
AMNOW Program

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release

▪ Demonstrating a robust and capable additive manufacturing 

supply chain supporting Army readiness

• Technology, materials, 

service

• Supporting processes & 

technologies

• “Low barrier of entry”

• Complex parts

• Difficult-to-source 

parts & components

• “Sharpest tool”

• Regional focus with 

national scale

• Easy access to this

capable technology 

& the supply chain

• “Source with confidence”

Elevating the 

capabilities of the 

additive manufacturing 

supply chain

Elevating the additive 

manufacturing process 

as a robust, reliable 

technology

Visualizing the additive 

manufacturing process 

& supply chain back to 

US Army
Part Definition (ATDP) & Data Requirements

Initial Contents

• As-Installed Part Model

• Drawing Notes

• Order of Operations

Later Contents

• Table of Order of Operations and Data Requirements

Contents Occasionally Used

• As-Printed Part Model – When Control Needed (Waveguides with Excess Stock for Smoothing)

• Semantic GD&T to Integrate with CMM Machine

What Didn’t Work Well

• Incorporating Drawing Notes in 3D-PDF – Attached 2D-PDF at End

• Embedding Dimensional Inspection Requirements – Attached PowerPoint at End

• Simulated Part Qualification Destruct and Testing Requirements – Attached PowerPoint at End

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release
Non-Print Data and Use - Overview

Use of Excel File, Naming Convention, and Common Header Worked

1) 913 – Feedstock Certification

2) 973 – Surface Smoothing

3) 974 – Chemical Finishing

4) 975 – Machining and Grinding

5) 976 – Penetrant Inspection

6) 978 – Thermal Processing

7) 979 – Radiographic Inspection

8) 990 – Coupon Testing

Other Data Files for NDT/Inspection/Test

• DICONDE for Raw Digital Radiographs

• Jpgs for Radiographic & Penetrant Indications, Metallography

All Files Metallurgist-Readable, Machine Readability a Challenge

Data Item Units Value Result

AMNOW Document Number string 913

Part Builder Name String na

Part Builder Short Name String na

Build Indentification String na

Build Start Date and Time String na

Build ASOW # number na

Group # number na

Build # number na

AMNOW Part # number na

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release
Print and Coupon Testing Data

Print Data

• Origin of print data is diagnostics printer OEMs developed to develop and improve printers

• Data recorded varies from printer OEM to printer OEM, and within model and OS, including sampling rate

• Significant effort required by LECS Energy to write translators and maintain them

Coupon Testing Data

• While ASTM specifications contain data reporting requirements, no standard for digital data reporting

• AMNOW program developed Excel templates for recording data that is machine and human readable

• Common header as non-print data for traceability

• AMNOW program contracted with 3 labs to write macros to convert test data to Excel format

• Quotient wrote software to automatically ingest coupon test data into database when labs uploaded it

• Significant reductions in time needed to search and analyze data

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release
Recommendation

Stand up Inter-SDO Working Group to Develop Standards for:

• Feedstock

• Printing

• Post-Processing

• NDT & Inspection

• Coupon Testing

Standards Would Include:

• Minimum Types, Precision, and Sampling to be Compliant

• Headers and Naming Conventions for Organization

• Format Requirements for Machine Readability

Distribution A: Approved for Public Release