ReAM250 - An open-source research platform for process monitoring and control in Powder Bed Fusion of Metals using a laser beam

Powder bed fusion of metals using a laser beam (PBF-LB/M) allows the additive manufacturing of geometrically complex parts. Current industrial applications are limited to non-safety-critical parts due to the low reproducibility of part properties and the costly quality assurance. Research in process monitoring and control aims to overcome these issues. However, due to the limited accessibility of hardware and software in commercial machines, self-made PBF-LB/M systems have to be constructed. The high implementation effort of these systems acts as an entry barrier for new researchers, and the lack of standardization limits the transferability of results. This work reviewed these setups to formulate requirements for future research systems and accordingly designed a modular, open-source, open-Architecture PBF-LB/M system. It facilitates the integration of sensors, and the open-source software provides full control over the process parameters. This offers a solution to enhance the accessibility and reproducibility of research on process control in PBF-LB/M.