5-Axis Additive Metal Printer: Software Testing and Validation

Open
DISC Alloys Inc
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Chief Commercial Officer
(2)
3
Project
Academic experience or paid work
60 hours of work total
Student
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Intermediate level

Project scope

Categories
Mechanical engineering Engineering project management Software development
Skills
software systems mastercam (cad/cam software) mechanical systems software testing actuators system integration testing test planning sensors systems integration firmware
Details

DISC Alloys Inc is in the final stages of developing software for their cutting-edge 5-axis additive metal printer. The project aims to ensure the software's reliability and efficiency through comprehensive systems integration testing and validation. The primary goal is to identify and rectify any software issues that could affect the printer's performance. The rigorously test will do the following

-test the low level firmware to gain confidence in reliability

-validate performance of the mechanical system, motors, and sensors

-calibrate and tune actuators and sensors

-test, configure, and simulate controls software in Mastercam

-system integration testing of coordinated motion to validate tool path execution

This project provides learners with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of software testing methodologies and systems integration. The tasks include creating test plans, executing tests, and documenting results. By the end of the project, learners will have gained hands-on experience in validating complex software systems within a manufacturing context.




Deliverables

The project deliverables include a detailed test plan outlining the testing strategy and procedures and then undertaking the testing. Learners will also provide a report documenting the test results, identified issues, recommended and implemented solutions. These deliverables will demonstrate the learners' ability to conduct thorough software testing and validation.

Mentorship
Domain expertise and knowledge

Providing specialized, in-depth knowledge and general industry insights for a comprehensive understanding.

Skills, knowledge and expertise

Sharing knowledge in specific technical skills, techniques, methodologies required for the project.

Hands-on support

Direct involvement in project tasks, offering guidance, and demonstrating techniques.

Tools and/or resources

Providing access to necessary tools, software, and resources required for project completion.

Regular meetings

Scheduled check-ins to discuss progress, address challenges, and provide feedback.

Supported causes

The global challenges this project addresses, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn more about all 17 SDGs here.

Industry, innovation and infrastructure

About the company

Company
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
2 - 10 employees
Advanced manufacturing, Airlines, aviation & aerospace
Representation
Small Business Immigrant-Owned

DISC Alloys helps build bimetallic rocket engines faster and makes them more efficient than anyone else; thanks to our redesigned cold spray nozzle and single step process
Aerospace parts need to be strong and light but building them is time-consuming and expensive.Our modified cold spray nozzle has a resolution of 1mm and a deposition rate of 20 kg/hour (we achieve this by shooting metal powder at supersonic speed) which saves 90% of the manufacturing time for bimetallic combustion chambers (combustion chambers are the manufacturing bottleneck for rocket engines) and drops costs by at least 30-40% while DISC generates 70% gross margins. Speed allows for multiple iterations and learning resulting in:
increased thrust from design optimisation
decreased weight through streamlined parts
Through the use of bimetallic parts, manufacturers can have more efficient engines. Altogether, this means more payload, revenue and profit. Our calculations indicate a 1% increase in efficiency for the Falcon Heavy rocket results in 14,000 kg of fuel saving which is worth $20-25M in extra payload revenue. The result: DISC Alloys is a total game changer for the rocket industry.

Cold Spray with our nozzle is a platform technology with multiple end markets. We believe we can offer superior thermal management performance through seamlessly combining copper and other metals together for multiple industries like satellite parts eg PCM chambers and support structures. Further cold spray can take advanced materials (high entropy alloys) that cannot be re-heated/melted, and now can be used to make high performance parts for aerospace and automotive applications. With our new nozzle we can go even further and make precision parts at speed, which is extremely difficult for existing cold spray manufacturers.