Error Detection in Laser Beam Melting Systems by High Resolution Imaging

Laser Beam Melting as a member of Additive Manufacturing processes allows the fabrication of three-dimensional metallic parts with almost unlimited geometrical complexity and very good mechanical properties. However, its potential in areas of application such as aerospace or medicine has not yet been exploited due to the lack of process stability and quality management. For that reason samples with pre-defined process irregularities are built and the resulting errors are detected using high-resolution imaging. This paper presents an overview of typical process errors and proposes a catalog of measures to reduce process breakdowns. Based on this systematical summary a future contribution to quality assurance and process documentation is aspired.