The future of AM relies on the ability to see, understand and control what happens during the process. While conventional monitoring systems capture only partial information, many critical phenomena and defects remain hidden due to limitations in spatial resolution and in-situ data quality. We develop new sensing solutions that push the boundaries of process observation. Our ScanIT technology (scanit.am) introduces an ultra-high-resolution monitoring approach for Laser Powder Bed Fusion, integrating a blade-mounted optical sensor directly inside the machine to capture unprecedented details of every printed layer.
This enables the detection of process anomalies and defect signatures that remain invisible to conventional methods. However, sensing alone is not enough: the key challenge is transforming massive amounts of process data into actionable knowledge. We develop fast machine learning and AI models that extract relevant information in real time, identify abnormal process conditions and support autonomous decision-making. By merging advanced sensing, data analytics and process intelligence, we aim to create self-aware AM systems able to inspect, learn and adapt during production.
