An optical approach to accurately determine surface finish for additive manufacturing

Abstract

Purpose The paper aims to highlight the importance of having an optical method that can accurately measure the surface finish of 3D printed parts and the influence this has on the total volume of the build. Design/methodology/approach The paper describes the application of digital moiré to the determination of the surface finish of 3D printed parts. Findings This study shows that surface roughness plays an important role in the volumetric analysis. There was an increase of 7 per cent from the total volume of the original CAD drawing; in total, there was 19 per cent more material deposited. Research limitations/implications This methodology provides a robust tool for future research in the area of geometrical verification and optimization in addition to the potential use for residual stress determination. Practical implications This study shows that process optimization can be carried out more efficiently, and it is possible to determine the efficiency of an AM process by directly correlating the processing parameters and accurately comparing the prescribed CAD dimensions/volume to that of the as built part. Social implications By reducing the amount of waste through process optimization, this leads to a reduced consumption of energy which can have a major impact on the environment. Originality/value This paper fulfills the need for high accuracy volumetric measurement of 3D printed components.