New AI system fixes 3D printing defects in real time
Additive manufacturing has revolutionized manufacturing by enabling customized, cost-effective products with minimal waste. However, with the majority of 3D printers operating on open-loop systems, they are notoriously prone to failure. Minor changes, like adjustments to nozzle size or print speed, can lead to print errors that mechanically weaken the part under production.
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…
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…