The intersection of 3-D printing and machine learning

In the past the applications of metal additive manufacturing, otherwise known as 3-D printing, have primarily been confined to prototyping. Recently, the field has begun to undergo a major transition, as researchers push closer to developing metal 3-D printing as a reliable form of industrial manufacturing. However, there are still major obstacles to tackle before the field can fully make the leap, especially in high-risk applications such as aviation components. "One of the biggest hurdles between just making a part that looks good and actually putting it on an aircraft is making sure that the part you're producing doesn't have flaws in it," says mechanical engineering (MechE) alumnus Luke Scime. Scime worked with MechE's Jack Beuth, director of the NextManufacturing Center, to develop a machine learning algorithm that detects anomalies within a part as it's being printed--a practice known as process monitoring.