Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Cindy Sithole; Sipke Hoekstra; Ian Gibson

Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Cindy Sithole
, Sipke Hoekstra
, Ian Gibson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Academic › peer-review

342 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) of metals is passing
the research stage and finding application in the industrial
environment as a manufacturing technology of choice. However,
the quality of products fabricated using metal AM technology
could be considered inferior when used in batch manufacturing.
Quality is generally defined as conformance to specification and
is inversely proportional to process variation. Variation in a
process signifies the number of possible defects per million
opportunities in a given production. This gives rise to the need
to characterize process variation to improve quality. This paper
explores the characterization of variability in laser powder bed
fusion (LPBF) AM of metals to improve the quality of part
production with specific focus on batches. It summarizes the
factors that influence the variation and discusses the tools used
to improve part quality.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference
Pages	174-178
ISBN (Electronic)	978-0-6397-0111-0
Publication status	Published - 2021
Event	22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference 2021: Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa – Robotics and Mechatronics – Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa ConferenceDigital Manufacturing: Industrialising Africa - International Convention Centre CSIR, Pretoria, South Africa Duration: 3 Nov 2021 → 5 Nov 2021 Conference number: 22 https://site.rapdasa.org/past-proceedings-2021/

Conference

Conference	22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference 2021
Abbreviated title	2021 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA
Country/Territory	South Africa
City	Pretoria
Period	3/11/21 → 5/11/21
Internet address	https://site.rapdasa.org/past-proceedings-2021/

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Access to Document

2021-RAPDASA-PROCEEDINGS-ISBN-978-0-6397-0111-0Final published version, 34.9 MB

https://site.rapdasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2021-RAPDASA-PROCEEDINGS-ISBN-978-0-6397-0111-0.pdf

QUALITY STRATEGY FOR METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING: A STRATEGY BASED ON QUALITY BY DESIGN AND DESIGN FOR SIX SIGMA FOR BATCH PRODUCTION IN METAL LASER POWDER BED FUSION TECHNOLOGY
Sithole, C., 20 Jun 2025, Enschede: University of Twente. 254 p.
Research output: Thesis › PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT

Open Access
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90 Downloads (Pure)

Cite this

@inproceedings{4b38dc4ba1fa4096befb9ff2e2e54267,

title = "Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion",

abstract = "Additive Manufacturing (AM) of metals is passing the research stage and finding application in the industrial environment as a manufacturing technology of choice. However, the quality of products fabricated using metal AM technology could be considered inferior when used in batch manufacturing. Quality is generally defined as conformance to specification and is inversely proportional to process variation. Variation in a process signifies the number of possible defects per million opportunities in a given production. This gives rise to the need to characterize process variation to improve quality. This paper explores the characterization of variability in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) AM of metals to improve the quality of part production with specific focus on batches. It summarizes the factors that influence the variation and discusses the tools used to improve part quality.",

author = "Cindy Sithole and Sipke Hoekstra and Ian Gibson",

year = "2021",

language = "English",

pages = "174--178",

booktitle = "22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference",

note = "22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference 2021 : Rapid Product Development Association of South Africa – Robotics and Mechatronics – Pattern Recognition Association of South Africa ConferenceDigital Manufacturing: Industrialising Africa, 2021 RAPDASA-RobMech-PRASA ; Conference date: 03-11-2021 Through 05-11-2021",

url = "https://site.rapdasa.org/past-proceedings-2021/",

}

Sithole, C, Hoekstra, S & Gibson, I 2021, Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion. in 22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference. pp. 174-178, 22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference 2021, Pretoria, South Africa, 3/11/21. <https://site.rapdasa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2021-RAPDASA-PROCEEDINGS-ISBN-978-0-6397-0111-0.pdf>

TY - GEN

T1 - Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion

AU - Sithole, Cindy

AU - Hoekstra, Sipke

AU - Gibson, Ian

N1 - Conference code: 22

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Additive Manufacturing (AM) of metals is passing the research stage and finding application in the industrial environment as a manufacturing technology of choice. However, the quality of products fabricated using metal AM technology could be considered inferior when used in batch manufacturing. Quality is generally defined as conformance to specification and is inversely proportional to process variation. Variation in a process signifies the number of possible defects per million opportunities in a given production. This gives rise to the need to characterize process variation to improve quality. This paper explores the characterization of variability in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) AM of metals to improve the quality of part production with specific focus on batches. It summarizes the factors that influence the variation and discusses the tools used to improve part quality.

AB - Additive Manufacturing (AM) of metals is passing the research stage and finding application in the industrial environment as a manufacturing technology of choice. However, the quality of products fabricated using metal AM technology could be considered inferior when used in batch manufacturing. Quality is generally defined as conformance to specification and is inversely proportional to process variation. Variation in a process signifies the number of possible defects per million opportunities in a given production. This gives rise to the need to characterize process variation to improve quality. This paper explores the characterization of variability in laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) AM of metals to improve the quality of part production with specific focus on batches. It summarizes the factors that influence the variation and discusses the tools used to improve part quality.

M3 - Conference contribution

SP - 174

EP - 178

BT - 22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference

T2 - 22nd Annual International RAPDASA Conference 2021

Y2 - 3 November 2021 through 5 November 2021

ER -

Importance of Characterizing the Variability for Batch Production using Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

QUALITY STRATEGY FOR METAL ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING: A STRATEGY BASED ON QUALITY BY DESIGN AND DESIGN FOR SIX SIGMA FOR BATCH PRODUCTION IN METAL LASER POWDER BED FUSION TECHNOLOGY

Cite this