Evaluation of 3D-printed parts by means of high-performance computer tomography

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Elena Lopez - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Tomás Felgueiras - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Christian Grunert - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • Frank Brückner - , Chair of Laser and Surface Technology, Institute of Manufacturing, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, Luleå University of Technology (Author)
  • Mirko Riede - , Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (Author)
  • André Seidel - , Chair of Materials Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Axel Marquardt - , Chair of Materials Technology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Christoph Leyens - , Chair of Materials Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, Luleå University of Technology (Author)
  • Eckhard Beyer - , Chair of Laser and Surface Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology, Luleå University of Technology (Author)

Abstract

Conventional tactile and optical testing methods are not capable to detect complex inner geometries or complex surface shapes. Detecting porosities in parts is also not possible with those nondestructive methods. Among other material parameters, geometrical accuracy is essential to determine part's quality. Additive manufacturing processes also have to be optimized regarding geometry deviations caused by distortion or unfavorable orientation in the build chamber. For additive manufactured parts that incorporate previously mentioned features, high-performance computer tomography is the more suitable nondestructive testing method. Components of different materials such as plastics, ceramics, composites, or metals can be completely characterized. This nondestructive testing method was used for porosity analysis regarding the shape and local distribution of pores in an additive manufactured part to find correlations concerning the most suitable process conditions. The measured part data were also compared to original CAD files to determine zones of deviation and apply specific process strategies to avoid distortion. This paper discusses the results of integrating high-performance computer tomography (power: 500 W, max. part size: Ø 300 mm, 300 × 430 mm2) in a productionlike environment of additively manufactured parts for a wide range of technologies (i.e., electron beam melting and selective laser melting).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number032307
JournalJournal of laser applications
Volume30
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2018
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-8126-8532/work/173053211

Keywords

Keywords

  • additive manufacturing, computer tomography, EBM, nondestructive testing, quality management, SLM