The quality-control methods currently used for powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) processes are open-loop based on the premise that consistent process inputs will result in repeatable quality. For critical components used on planes, spaceships, rockets, and vessels, this assumption does not suffice. To address this issue, EWI is focused on developing in-process monitoring techniques for PBF processes to effectively predict part quality and increase the efficiency of any required post-process inspection. A new article by EWI Applications Engineer Mahdi Jamshidinia, In-process Monitoring and Detection of Cross-contamination in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing, describes the use of a photodetector to identify and quantify cross-contamination during laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF), as well as the use of computed tomography (CT) and metallurgical analysis to verify predictions of part quality.
To read the article, click here.