AI accelerates process design for 3D printing metal alloys
In order to successfully 3D-print a metal part to the exacting specifications that many in industry demand, process parameters—including printing speed, laser power, and layer thickness of the deposited material—must all be optimized.
Producing high-performance titanium alloy parts—whether for spacecraft, submarines or medical devices—has long been a slow, resource-intensive process. Even with advanced metal 3D-printing techniques, finding the right manufacturing conditions has required extensive testing and fine-tuning.
A new computer vision system watches the 3D printing process and adjusts velocity and printing path to avoid errors. Training the system in simulation, researchers avoid the costly trial-and-error associated with setting 3D printing parameters for new materials.
Scientists and engineers are constantly developing new materials with unique properties that can be used for 3D printing, but figuring out how to print with these materials can be a complex, costly conundrum. Often, an expert operator must use manual trial-and-error — possibly making thousands of prints — to determine…