Rowan University Is Using Real-Time Inspection to Train the Next Generation of Metal AM Engineers

Fringe Inspection Comes to Campus

Rowan University has a new metal 3D printer in its Digital Engineering Hub. It also has real-time process monitoring installed from day one. The school partnered with Chicago-based Phase3D to bring Fringe Inspection to its DMG MORI LASERTEC 30 SLM US system. The goal is to give students and researchers live data on every layer, not just post-build inspection reports.

Phase3D's Fringe system uses structured light and proprietary software to generate heightmaps of each powder bed layer. Operators can see surface anomalies, porosity, and geometry errors while the printer is still running. In traditional metal AM, most defects are discovered after the build finishes, often too late to save the part.

A Real Test on the First Build

The partnership proved its worth immediately. During DEHub's first independent build after installation, the print started with only contours forming for the first 60 layers. Infill and supports never appeared. Without Fringe Inspection, the team would likely have cancelled the print early as a precaution. Instead, the heightmaps showed abnormal swelling and improper powder coverage. The build was stopped before damage occurred, and the issue was diagnosed and corrected.

That first run is exactly the kind of scenario the system is built for. Catching a contours-only start before it ruins a full metal build saves both time and expensive powder.

Why Universities Are the Right Testing Ground

Metal AM quality assurance has mostly lived in production environments. Bringing it into a university setting changes the dynamic. Students learn to interpret process data directly, not just read final reports. Researchers can experiment with new alloys and geometries knowing that build-layer anomalies will be flagged in real time.

Phase3D has strong ties to defense funding through SBIR contracts, and Rowan's DEHub also receives DARPA support. The partnership will benefit defense-related research. But the real opportunity is commercial. A student trained on a Fringe-integrated system is likely to specify similar monitoring in future production environments. The technology filters outward from campus to industry.