Systems and methods for measuring radiated thermal energy during an additive manufacturing operation

An additive manufacturing method, comprising:

• dividing a build plane into a plurality of grid regions, wherein each of the grid region has a grid area;
• generating a plurality of scans of an energy source across the build plane;
• generating sensor readings during each of the plurality of scans using an optical sensor;
• determining a total amount of energy radiated from the build plane during the plurality of scans using the sensor readings;
• computing a thermal energy density associated with a grid region of the plurality of grid regions based upon the total amount of energy radiated from the grid region and the grid area of the grid region;
• determining that the thermal energy density associated with the grid region is characterized by a thermal energy density outside a range of thermal energy density values;
• and
• thereafter, adjusting an output of the energy source.

An additive manufacturing method, comprising:

• dividing at least a portion of a build plane into a plurality of grid regions each having a grid area;
• generating a plurality of scans of an energy source across the build plane;
• generating sensor readings during each of the plurality of scans using an optical sensor;
• for each of the plurality of scans, mapping portions of each of the sensor readings to a respective one of the plurality of grid regions;
• for each of the plurality of grid regions:
• summing the sensor readings mapped to each grid region;
• and
• computing a thermal energy density based on the summed sensor readings and the grid area;
• determining that the thermal energy density associated with one or more of the plurality of grid regions is characterized by a thermal energy density outside a range of thermal energy density values;
• and
• thereafter, adjusting an output of the energy source.