System and method for authenticating components

A system for authenticating an additively manufactured component, the system comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memory devices, the one or more memory devices storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• locating a datum feature on the component, the datum feature being additively manufactured onto the component and positioned at a predetermined location relative to an identifying region on the component, the identifying region containing a component identifier of the component, wherein the component identifier comprises an inherent surface roughness of the component after manufacture;
• determining the location of the identifying region based on the location of the datum feature;
• determining the component identifier by interrogating the identifying region of the component using a scanner;
• obtaining a reference identifier from a database;
• and
• determining that the component is authentic if the component identifier matches the reference identifier.

A method of additively manufacturing a component, the method comprising:

• additively manufacturing the component comprising a surface and a datum feature additively manufactured onto the component;
• specifying an identifying region on the surface of the component, the identifying region being positioned at a predetermined location relative to the datum feature;
• obtaining data indicative of a component identifier of the component by interrogating the identifying region of the component using a scanner, wherein the component identifier comprises an inherent surface roughness of the component after manufacture;
• and
• storing the component identifier in a database as a reference identifier.