Thermo-optical measurement devices have been developed at the Fraunhofer ISC during the last 20 years - recently also with atmospheric control (TOM-AC). This technique will be used to test and inspect additive manufactured PM-parts during the whole temperature cycle inside the furnace to evaluate full functionality. This method allows to follow changes of sample shape (up to 50mm in diameter) with an accuracy of nearly 0.3 micron by contact-less measurement. Due to the purely optical detection samples of any shape can be monitored inside the furnace. A sophisticated algorithm detects the contour of samples - and thus dimensional changes. Possible applications include simply measuring the shrinkage or shape distortions. By a computer-controlled program we realized full atmospheric control, i.e. changing the gas atmosphere inside the furnace (inert gas at different pressures, forming gas or vacuum) during the sintering process.

Main focus according additive manufactured PM-parts lies on quality and quality control during production process, and on characterization of behavior under thermal or other stress application. Thermo-Optical Measurement technique offers a wide range of contactless, optical detection of complex shaped PM-parts with very high resolution. Additional modules as load-, balance- or gas-analysis - module are appliable to the TOM system to detect in-situ creep, crack or degasing character of the parts during heat treatment. This data is highly needed for the optimization of production process and only available with innovative TOM-Technique.