Phase3D, a Chicago-based startup, closed a $2.9 million funding round to scale its in-situ monitoring for metal additive manufacturing. Its Fringe Inspection product uses structured light to capture layer-by-layer height map data during powder bed fusion (LPBF), enabling real-time detection of powder bed anomalies. With 25 enterprise customers including NASA and the US Air Force, this technology matters to metal powder buyers because it directly impacts print yield and quality. Real-time anomaly detection—such as recoater crashes or uneven powder spread—reduces waste and increases first-pass success, crucial for costly powders like Ti-6Al-4V. As LPBF scales in production, such monitoring helps justify powder costs and ensures material is used efficiently. Phase3D plans to further automate defect detection and expand into hybrid processes combining LPBF and directed energy deposition (LMD), offering buyers more confidence in using powders for critical applications.