Direct Metal Laser Sintering

Abstract A few years ago, 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) were next generation technologies and well known as methods for rapid prototyping. Less rapid manufacturing applications were on the market (e. g. manufacturing of dental crowns and bridges). Today, AM is on the step to serial production, industries ranging from aerospace and medical to energy and automotive benefit from the possibility to design and manufacture products in a completely new way. These industries require a detailed documentation of the process including automated in‐process quality inspection. Several technologies are used for quality assurance of the process and quality inspection of the parts. This paper describes how to setup an in‐process monitoring system to detect a process phenomenon called “splashy process” for the DMLS process.