Technique for analyzing sensor data in powder bed additive manufacturing
AssigneeSLM Solutions Group AG
InventorsDieter Schwarze, Kim Kulling, Andreas Hoppe, Baerbel Kratz, Daniel Alberts
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device is provided, for analyzing sensor data of a sensor arranged in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece via irradiation of layers of raw material with an energy beam. Further, a corresponding method and a corresponding computer program product are provided.
Claims14
A device for analyzing sensor data of a sensor arranged in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece via irradiation of layers of raw material with an energy beam, the device comprising a control unit configured to:
- receive the sensor data as a time series of data values, wherein each data value is indicative of a process condition within the apparatus during producing the three-dimensional work piece;
- receive planning data for the three-dimensional work piece, the planning data defining a plurality of scanning vectors and a sequence according to which the energy beam is scanned along the scanning vectors;
- associate the data values of the time series to corresponding vector data of the scanning vectors of the planning data to form a plurality of sets of data values for corresponding scanning vectors;
- define, based on the planning data, a group of at least two scanning vectors among the plurality of scanning vectors, wherein the scanning vectors of the group meet a predefined similarity criterion, wherein the similarity criterion considers a similarity in orientation of the scanning vectors;
- compare a set of data values of a first scanning vector of the group to a set of data values of at least one second scanning vector of the group or to a combined set of data values derived from at least two second scanning vectors of the group;
- and
- determine, based on the comparing, a quality measure of the work piece at a position of the first scanning vector, wherein the control unit is further configured to adapt, during a build process of the work piece, a process parameter of the apparatus, based on the determined quality measure.
A method for analyzing sensor data of a sensor arranged in an apparatus for producing a three-dimensional work piece via irradiation of layers of raw material with an energy beam, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a control unit, the sensor data as a time series of data values, wherein each data value is indicative of a process condition within the apparatus during producing the three-dimensional work piece;
- receiving, by the control unit, planning data for the three-dimensional work piece, the planning data defining a plurality of scanning vectors and a sequence according to which the energy beam is scanned along the scanning vectors;
- associating, by the control unit, the data values of the time series to corresponding vector data of the scanning vectors of the planning data to form a plurality of sets of data values for corresponding scanning vectors;
- defining, by the control unit and based on the planning data, a group of at least two scanning vectors among the plurality of scanning vectors, wherein the scanning vectors of the group meet a predefined similarity criterion, wherein the similarity criterion considers a similarity in orientation of the scanning vectors;
- comparing a set of data values of a first scanning vector of the group to a set of data values of at least one second scanning vector of the group or to a combined set of data values derived from at least two second scanning vectors of the group;
- determining, by the control unit and based on the comparing, a quality measure of the work piece at a position of the first scanning vector;
- and
- adapting, by the control unit during a build process of the work piece, a process parameter of the apparatus, based on the determined quality measure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.