5 Finalists Announced for Inaugural 3D Printing Tech Challenge
Five leading companies to demonstrate cutting-edge in-situ monitoring technologies for metal AM.
The Applied Science & Technology Research Organization of America (ASTRO America), in collaboration with ASTM International’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence and Florida State University’s Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research & Education (InSPIRE), announced the five finalists chosen to participate in the Actionable In-Situ Awareness Challenge, an inaugural tech challenge and showcase that will identify promising sensors and monitoring capabilities. Such technology promises to provide unique quality-tracking in advanced aerospace and defense part-manufacturing.
Jentek Sensors, Additive Assurance, Phase3D, Applied Optimization and Addiguru will participate in a three-month challenge to demonstrate commercially viable in-situ monitoring and data analytics solutions for metal additive manufacturing (AM).
During the challenge, each company will install and test their monitoring systems on ASTRO America’s industrial-scale metal 3D printers at Maritech Machine in Panama City, Florida. Their task: to collect meaningful in-process data and demonstrate how their solution delivers quantifiable value to end users across defense and aerospace sectors.
“Despite a long-standing understanding of the importance of monitoring and data analytics in additive manufacturing, users still lack clarity on which solutions offer genuine value,” says Dr. Abdalla Nassar, Vice President, ASTRO America. “This challenge is designed to help separate effective solutions from less impactful ones.”
In metal AM, quality control is still largely post-process — meaning defects are often discovered after a lengthy and expensive build is complete. Many companies have developed their own sensor packages and "autocorrect" systems for 3D printing, but widespread adoption has been inhibited.
Final results will be presented during a public showcase event on August 26-27, 2025, in Panama City. Attendees will include representatives from Challenge sponsors ASTRO, ASTM, FSU Inspire, as well as from guest evaluators from GE Aerospace, Northrop Grumman and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and FSU.
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