Software Enhances Accuracy of 3D-Printed Parts

Additive manufacturing offers tremendous benefits but consistency and accuracy on mass-produced 3D-printed parts can be an issue. As with any production technology, parts built should be as close to identical as possible, whether it is 10 parts or 10 million.

Researchers developed a generalized linear model (GLM) to model the variability and to predict defects. The framework can be extended to analyze additional machines and process parameters and provides a practical tool to account for manufacturing variability in an AM production environment.

The software allows for the rapid and automatic measurement of additively manufactured parts — a process that is typically time-consuming and costly. The software helps ensure production is consistent, accurate, and cost-effective.

The software tracks how the accuracy of an additively manufactured part depends on which printer made the part and where the part was located in the printer. This process works by measuring parts using optical scanning technology and analysis of the scan data. This analysis allows a user to determine which parts are accurate and identifies which printers and settings produce the most accurate parts.