Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

Additive manufacturing (AM) allows for the creation of complex geometries that cannot be created with traditional manufacturing methods. AM is widely used in regulated industries such as medical and aerospace which require objective evidence of good manufacturing processes (GMP) for auditing purpose...

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Main Author: Kota, Maya Padmini
Other Authors: Hardt, David
Format: Thesis
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2023
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153098
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author Kota, Maya Padmini
author2 Hardt, David
author_facet Hardt, David
Kota, Maya Padmini
author_sort Kota, Maya Padmini
collection MIT
description Additive manufacturing (AM) allows for the creation of complex geometries that cannot be created with traditional manufacturing methods. AM is widely used in regulated industries such as medical and aerospace which require objective evidence of good manufacturing processes (GMP) for auditing purposes. Within AM, important powder layer characteristics must be met to ensure final part quality. Currently, no machine can provide objective evidence of a proper characterization of crucial powder layer properties with in-process monitoring equipment. Such properties are currently verified by unquantifiable means and can be classified within two categories of failure. This project investigates and analyzes possible sensor technologies that can provide in-process data to objectively quantify the characterization condition. Implementing in-process monitoring technologies will provide objective, quantitative evidence, prevent failed builds due to improper powder layer setups, and reduce the time it takes to set up an AM machine for a build. While the final solution for this project incorporates the use of both a 2D laser line sensor and an AM in-machine camera, this thesis will specifically focus on the in-machine camera. More specifically, this thesis will discuss camera repeatability tests that were conducted, the images taken during these tests, and the resulting pixel intensity values from these images. Analysis of the intensity values demonstrated that the in-machine camera could distinguish between different powder layer thickness values and that intensity values could be used as a quantitative metric to indicate whether certain powder layer characteristics are within specification.
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spelling mit-1721.1/1530982023-12-01T03:36:55Z Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process Kota, Maya Padmini Hardt, David Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering Additive manufacturing (AM) allows for the creation of complex geometries that cannot be created with traditional manufacturing methods. AM is widely used in regulated industries such as medical and aerospace which require objective evidence of good manufacturing processes (GMP) for auditing purposes. Within AM, important powder layer characteristics must be met to ensure final part quality. Currently, no machine can provide objective evidence of a proper characterization of crucial powder layer properties with in-process monitoring equipment. Such properties are currently verified by unquantifiable means and can be classified within two categories of failure. This project investigates and analyzes possible sensor technologies that can provide in-process data to objectively quantify the characterization condition. Implementing in-process monitoring technologies will provide objective, quantitative evidence, prevent failed builds due to improper powder layer setups, and reduce the time it takes to set up an AM machine for a build. While the final solution for this project incorporates the use of both a 2D laser line sensor and an AM in-machine camera, this thesis will specifically focus on the in-machine camera. More specifically, this thesis will discuss camera repeatability tests that were conducted, the images taken during these tests, and the resulting pixel intensity values from these images. Analysis of the intensity values demonstrated that the in-machine camera could distinguish between different powder layer thickness values and that intensity values could be used as a quantitative metric to indicate whether certain powder layer characteristics are within specification. M.Eng. 2023-11-30T21:43:00Z 2023-11-30T21:43:00Z 2023-02 2023-03-01T20:04:06.914Z Thesis https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153098 In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted Copyright retained by author(s) https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/ application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Kota, Maya Padmini
Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title_full Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title_fullStr Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title_full_unstemmed Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title_short Using Optical Imaging and Image Processing to Verify a Layer in a Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process
title_sort using optical imaging and image processing to verify a layer in a laser powder bed fusion process
url https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153098
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