Methods and apparatus for 2-D and 3-D scanning path visualization

A method comprising:

• identifying at least one melt pool dimension using a beam parameter setting, the at least one melt pool dimension identified from a plurality of melt pool dimensions obtained by varying the beam parameter setting;
• identifying a response surface model based on the plurality of melt pool dimensions to determine an effect of variation in the beam parameter setting on the at least one melt pool dimension;
• outputting a three-dimensional model of a scanning path for an additive manufacturing process using the response surface model, the response surface model including a first transfer function to identify a melt pool depth and a second transfer function to identify a melt pool width;
• and
• adjusting the beam parameter setting based on the three-dimensional model to identify a second beam parameter setting, the second beam parameter setting used to at least one of increase fusion, decrease fusion, or decrease burn back of a build to improve three-dimensional build quality.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to at least:

• identify at least one melt pool dimension using a beam parameter setting, the at least one melt pool dimension identified from a plurality of melt pool dimensions obtained by varying the beam parameter setting;
• identify a response surface model based on the plurality of melt pool dimensions to determine an effect of variation in the beam parameter setting on the at least one melt pool dimension;
• output a three-dimensional model of a scanning path for an additive manufacturing process using the response surface model, the response surface model including a first transfer function to identify a melt pool depth and a second transfer function to identify a melt pool width;
• and
• adjust the beam parameter setting based on the three-dimensional model to identify a second beam parameter setting, the second beam parameter setting used to at least one of increase fusion, decrease fusion, or decrease burn back of a build to improve three-dimensional build quality.