In-situ measurement and monitoring methods for metal powder bed fusion: an updated review

The possibility of using a variety of sensor signals acquired during metal powder bed fusion processes, to support part and process qualification and for the early detection of anomalies and defects, has been continuously attracting an increasing interest. The number of research studies in this field has been characterised by significant growth in the last few years, with several advances and new solutions compared with first seminal works. Moreover, industrial powder bed fusion (PBF) systems are increasingly equipped with sensors and toolkits for data collection, visualisation and, in some cases, embedded in-process analysis. Many new methods have been proposed and defect detection capabilities have been demonstrated. Nevertheless, several challenges and open issues still need to be tackled to bridge the gap between methods proposed in the literature and actual industrial implementation. This paper presents an updated review of the literature on in-situ sensing, measurement and monitoring for metal PBF processes, with a classification of methods and a comparison of enabled performances. The study summarises the types and sizes of defects that are practically detectable while the part is being produced and the research areas where additional technological advances are currently needed.

Automated summary

The use of sensor signals in metal powder bed fusion processes for part and process qualification, as well as early detection of anomalies and defects, is a growing area of interest with significant research growth in recent years. Industrial PBF systems are increasingly equipped with sensors and toolkits for data collection and analysis, with new methods proposed and defect detection capabilities demonstrated. Challenges still remain in bridging the gap between proposed methods in research literature and actual industrial implementation.