Page 24 - EngineerIT April 2022

3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing initiatives facilitating measurement The ability to locally manufacture mechanical components will greatly assist in resolving this problem and will reduce

solutions on the continent the reliance of African NMIs on international supply chains. The AFRIMETS Additive Manufacturing (AM) project was
developed by the NMISA to provide a 3D printer, online training, and support for each of the six participating African NMIs.
This project will allow the NMIs to manufacture mechanical components as required by their laboratories, and included
The National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA) continuously improve accurate measurement methods and training on digital part modelling, design for AM, and 3D-printer usage.
investigate new possibilities to keep South-African and African metrology (the science of measurement) relevant. This is
driven by the ever-increasing demand for high accuracy measurements to ensure internationally comparable measurement The first components printed included a replacement knob, a micrometer holder, pipette stand and a custom designed
solutions and services on the continent. This role stems from the strategic goals of the NMISA as a South African public retro-reflector carriage. The micrometer holder is a basic component, but is required to perform micrometer calibrations,
entity supported by the Department of Trade, Innovation and Competition, the dtic, and builds South Africa’s contribution therefore allowing that specific NMI to offer a new service. Future projects are anticipated to include the manufacture of
towards mutual acceptance of testing results in the region, required for regional integration. advanced components such as opto-mechanic mounts or the mechanical parts required by the Kibble Balance Project.

Specifically, NMISA assists African National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) by supporting the establishment and maintenance The project was very successful, providing opportunity for expansion in future. Locally additively manufactured functional
of fit-for-purpose metrology facilities and building metrological capacity through training of scientists, engineers and parts will make African metrology institutes more sustainable and independent. These institutes are now able to provide
technologists. This assists African entities to obtain reliable, internationally recognised measurement traceability, which is additional calibration services, which link the measurement units to industrial and everyday measurements.
needed for legislation, regulations and to overcome technical barriers to trade and industrialisation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation across the world, resulting in the rapid
adoption of new technologies such as Additive Manufacturing and online collaboration technologies. The restriction on
travel influenced the planned training schedule at NMISA, and the institute had to devise innovative solutions to support
metrology training on the continent.
NMISA, assisted by development partner funding from the German NMI, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt
(PTB), embarked on two innovative projects, which utilised 3D printing technology to build the metrology capability on the
continent and provide fit-for-purpose measurement solutions to the African NMIs.

Towards Independent Realisation of the
Mass Base Unit on the African Continent Self-designed replacement dial indicater Micrometer-stand printed by Namibian Standards Institution Custom retroflector carriage by the Kenya Bureau of
test stand knob by the Scientific and
(Thing 4682606, NSI)
Standards (KEBS)
Industrial Research and Development
Centre’s National Metrology Institute
The innovation drive of NMISA was further strengthened by (SIRDC-NMI, Zimbabwe)
partnering with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) from
the UK on the development of a Kibble Balance system. This
partnership aims to accurately weigh mass pieces below These projects strengthen the NMISA drive for continued
500 g. It was established in response to the revision of the “This training has been a great experience. The 3D printer has really advancement of metrology on the continent through the
International System of Units (SI), that came into effect on opened a new world of opportunities for the laboratory and our Intra-Africa Metrology System (AFRIMETS), of which the
20 May 2019, which saw the seven base units each linked institution and has brought timely and cost-effective solutions to NMISA has held the secretariat since inception, 16 years
to a “defining constant” instead of physical artefacts. For our needs for customised parts and accessories for our equipment. ago.
example, the definition of the unit for mass changed from We have reduced the amount of time and effort needed to
the physical artefact (the International Prototype Kilogram) calibrate our standard equipment, and it has provided access to Mr Ndwakhulu Mukhufhi, the Chief Executive Officer for
stored in Paris to the use of the Kibble Balance Method, customised fixtures, which would have been nearly impossible to NMISA, stated that: “Such projects, and the support from
which is based on Planck’s constant. Calibration of the NMISA mobile Kibble Balance system acquire before.” the NPL and PTB, develop metrology within the African
continent, and capacity building (both physical and
Calvin Bore, BSc Mechatronic Engineering, from the Kenya
NMISA developed an affordable portable Kibble Balance Bureau of Standards (KEBS) remote training), research collaboration and networking, all
demonstrator system where the mechanical parts were empower Africa to overcome technical barriers to trade, to
produced using 3D printing technology. The aim is to enhance industrialisation and to become self-sustaining.
enhance the continent’s knowledge and application of this Moreover, this project allows us to do our work within our
new method, bringing African NMIs on par with international “The training provided a refresher course on the African context and develop fit-for-purpose measurement
developments in a short time period. After thoroughly basic concepts and how these are applied to solutions as we shorten the traceability chain for Africa.”
testing this system, duplicate systems were manufactured, realise the new definition of the kilogram.” “This project has enabled us to print broken replacement parts
and have been provided to five NMIs in Africa. for our laboratory equipment and research and development Furthermore, program-specific virtual learning platforms
Ame A Phirinyane, Metrologist, Botswana protypes for our organisation. We are in the process of designing will play an important role in educating metrologists in
NMISA also provided training on these new systems to Bureau of Standards (BOBS) and 3D printing equipment for research and development for the future. Although this does not replace the need for
assist those institutions in understanding the new definition SIRDC, and the ability to additively manufacture our own parts physical, in-person, on-equipment training, it is a valuable
for equipment, which means that we are no longer reliant on
and prepare them for future measurements. alternative, reducing the need for international travel and
expensive outsourcing, and it has reduced our expenses.”
increasing the efficiency of training delivery. The NMISA
Training Centre is currently finalising its metrological course
Burnhard Gandah, Principal Scientist, from SIRDC-NMI,
Zimbabwe offerings and will be launched on 20 May 2022, which is
World Metrology Day.
Additive Manufacturing of Instrument Replacement Parts by African Metrology Institutes

Metrology requires advanced scientific instrumentation and tools. Most African NMIs typically import sophisticated
measurement instruments, while the replacement or modification parts for the instruments are non-standard, unique,
expensive, or only available from the original equipment manufacturers (OEM). These OEMs and their support engineers Web: www.nmisa.org
are geographically far away and servicing such instruments is therefore extremely difficult, if not impossible, often resulting Tel: +27 12 947 2800
in significant costs and shipping or custom clearance delays. CSIR Campus, Building 5, Meiring Naude Road, Brummeria, Pretoria 0182
Private Bag X34, Lynnwood Ridge, 0040, South Africa