METHOD TO MONITOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING PROCESS FOR DETECTION AND IN-SITU CORRECTION OF DEFECTS

摘要

The present invention provides a system and a method for real time monitoring and identifying defects occurring in a three dimensional object build via an additive manufacturing process. Further, the present invention provides in-situ correction of such defects by a plurality of functional tool heads possessing freedom of motion in arbitrary planes and approach, where the functional tool heads are automatically and independently controlled based on a feedback analysis from the printing process, implementing analyzing techniques. Furthermore, the present invention provides a mechanism for analyzing defected data collected from detection devices and correcting tool path instructions and object model in-situ during construction of a 3D object. A build report is also generated that displays, in 3D space, the structural geometry and inherent properties of a final build object along with the features of corrected and uncorrected defects. Advantageously, the build report helps in improving 3D printing process for subsequent objects.

主权项

1. A system for printing a three dimensional object, said system comprising:
a first engine configured to generate a set of tool path instructions for three dimensional printing of the three dimensional object; at least one tool head to perform three dimensional printing implementing the tool path instructions; at least one monitoring device for real time monitoring and detecting one or more defects generated in the three dimensional object; a controller in operational communication with the at least one monitoring device configured to generate a set of correcting instructions for controlling at least one of the tool heads to correct the defects in the three dimensional object simultaneously while the object is printing; and the controller configured to communicate with the first engine and instruct the first engine to modify the set of tool path instructions in response to the identified defects and a printed object model, during and after the printing of the object respectively.