3D printing becomes stronger and more economical with light and AI
Photocurable 3D printing, widely used for everything from dental treatments to complex prototype manufacturing, is fast and precise but has the limitation of being fragile and easily broken by impact. A KAIST research team has developed a new technology to overcome this weakness, paving the way for the more robust and economical production of everything from medical implants to precision machine parts.
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.
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.