Metal Based Additive Layer Manufacturing: Variations, Correlations and Process Control

Additive layer manufacturing is emerging as the next generation in part manufacture. It is being adopted by aerospace, tool making, dental and medical industries to produce and develop new conceptual designs and products due to its speed and flexibility.It has been noted that parts produced using additive layer manufacturing are not to a consistent quality. Variations have been recorded showing inadequate control over dimensional tolerances, surface roughness, porosity, and other defects in built parts. It is, however, possible to control these variables using real-time processes that currently lack adequate process measurement methods. This paper identifies process variation and lists parameters currently being recorded during a commercial additive manufacture (AM) machine build process. Furthermore, it examines correlations between manufactured parts and real time build variations.