Process Monitoring and Control
Some of the challenges that inhibit the industry use of AM are the finished part quality roadblock, low process repeatability/reliability, high production cost, and low productivity due to random and environmental disturbances. Disturbances are associated with the laser beam quality, powder characteristics, energy distribution, non-linear thermodynamic properties of material, motion systems, and plasma formation. This theme focuses on solutions, protocols and quantifiers to aid in the creation of a “Certify-as-you-build” AM platform.