Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the manufacturing industry in several directions. Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is one of the powder bed-based AM technologies that offers tremendous potential for fabricating complex metal parts with high precision and efficiency. However, a key obstacle hindering the widespread adoption of LPBF in industry is the difficulty in precisely controlling microstructure formation during the printing process. This challenge can result in inconsistencies in material properties and performance, thereby impacting the quality and reliability of printed components. To address this challenge, innovative solutions are needed to understand and predict the complex interactions between process parameters, microstructure evolution, and material properties in LPBF. The rise of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offers opportunities to tackle these challenges. By harnessing advanced computational modeling, data analytics, and materials science techniques, researchers and industry experts can devise strategies to forecast and enhance LPBF processes, thereby improving the quality and properties of AM parts. The Technology Access Centre for Aerospace and Manufacturing (TACAM) at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) plans to collaborate with the OptiFab Technologies Inc., which specializes in providing cutting-edge solutions in metal AM, particularly in the field of LPBF. The goal is to create and verify computational algorithms that predict process variables, such as toolpath strategies, ensuring parts meet desired properties and geometrical accuracy. The project aims to develop data-driven toolpaths for microstructure control in LPBF-built materials. By leveraging advanced data analytics techniques, the goal is to optimize the printing process parameters and scan patterns to achieve desired microstructures and material properties. This project is expected to yield both economic and industrial benefits through innovative research. The TACAM team will leverage its existing capabilities and expertise in design, additive manufacturing, advanced metrology, and inspection techniques to deliver the project. OptiFab is a progressive company in Canada with a high-priority commitment to research and development activities. The company has the capacity to implement and further advance the results of this project through the commercialization of the digital solution developed.