MultipLICITY project

Revolutionizing 3D Printing with extreme-speed thermographic SWIR imaging

In the MultipLICITY project, Xenics, part of Exosens is part of a team to break new ground in additive manufacturing by integrating real-time, short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging for advanced process monitoring and defect detection.

At the forefront of this innovation is the Cheetah+, Xenics' high-speed SWIR camera. Tailored for the demands of 3D printing, the Cheetah+ captures ultra-fast, spectrally rich data produced by multiple lasers, ideal for multi-material 3D printing applications.

Key Features of the Cheetah+ Camera:

Region of Interest (RoI) Functionality

Focus on specific areas spatially or spectrally, enhancing imaging speed (up to 60kHz with RoI, 1700 Hz full-frame) while reducing data load. RoI targets critical zones such as:

Melt pools in laser sintering
Material transition interfaces
Potential voids or irregularities

Thermographic Precision Calibration

The Cheetah+ offers unparalleled speed and traceable accuracy, allowing precise temperature measurement of targets. This ensures consistent quality control, improved process efficiency, and reduced waste — enabling defect-free component manufacturing with enhanced sustainability.

With these advancements in SWIR imaging, the MultipLICITY project accelerates the evolution of smarter, faster, and more adaptive 3D printing technologies.