Based in Berlin, the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) forms part of Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Its work encompasses research, testing and advice on how to protect people, the environment and material goods. All BAM activities in the fields of materials science, materials engineering and chemistry are primarily geared toward ensuring the technical safety of products and processes. The institute also develops and verifies its own analysis procedures and methods of assessment, models and essential standards, and provides science-based services for German industry in Europe and beyond. Against this backdrop, BAM has now developed a measuring device for rapidly making out the 3D form of ceramics and glass ceramics during the sintering process.

The need for process-related and integrated testing procedures is on the rise. This is particularly due to the increased standards of quality linked to today's constantly evolving methods of manufacturing. To date, however, it has proven incredibly difficult to detect changes in shape, especially during processes involving high temperatures. But that's all set to change thanks to a new measuring method engineered to rapidly determine the 3D shape of complex components in situ at temperatures as high as 1,700 degrees Celsius. This is achieved by way of laser triangulation, with a laser beam being widened and projected onto the relevant sample. The resulting scattered light trace is shown on a CCD sensor and can be used to calculate the sample's exact surface profile. Finally, the rotation or translation of the sample is designed to ensure its geometry can be determined and reviewed in its entirety.

German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (12205 Berlin, Germany)
Website: www./bam-deutschland.de/