Authors:
Andrea Villano (University College Dublin, Ireland)
Fatemeh Golpayegani (University College Dublin, Ireland)
Cathal Hoare (University College Dublin, Ireland)
Denis P. Dowling (University College Dublin, Ireland)
Abstract:
The additive manufacturing of Ti-6Al-4V medical implants is widely applied due to the alloy’s biocompatibility, as well as its mechanical properties close to the human bone. This study’s objective is to identify if the formation of porosity defects during print processing can be identified by an in-process monitoring system as they are generated.An optical emission in-process monitoring sensor system was used to monitor radiation emission intensity at the meltpool. The data were collected during the printing of Ti-6Al-4V spinal cage devices and the in-process data was correlated with the parts’ properties, the latter evaluated characterising the samples’ morphology, crystal structure, mechanical strength and porosity.The study demonstrated that the influence of print geometry on porosity as well as grain microstructure, significantly more present at ridges and print edges than within the bulk alloy, can be successfully identified by in-process monitoring systems, opening to possible future implementations of real-time process-monitoring.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59499/EP256767956
