Applications of Machine Learning in Process Monitoring and Controls of L-PBF Additive Manufacturing: A Review

One of the main issues hindering the adoption of parts produced using laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) in safety-critical applications is the inconsistencies in quality levels. Furthermore, the complicated nature of the L-PBF process makes optimizing process parameters to reduce these defects experimentally challenging and computationally expensive. To address this issue, sensor-based monitoring of the L-PBF process has gained increasing attention in recent years. Moreover, integrating machine learning (ML) techniques to analyze the collected sensor data has significantly improved the defect detection process aiming to apply online control. This article provides a comprehensive review of the latest applications of ML for in situ monitoring and control of the L-PBF process. First, the main L-PBF process signatures are described, and the suitable sensor and specifications that can monitor each signature are reviewed. Next, the most common ML learning approaches and algorithms employed in L-PBFs are summarized. Then, an extensive comparison of the different ML algorithms used for defect detection in the L-PBF process is presented. The article then describes the ultimate goal of applying ML algorithms for in situ sensors, which is closing the loop and taking online corrective actions. Finally, some current challenges and ideas for future work are also described to provide a perspective on the future directions for research dealing with using ML applications for defect detection and control for the L-PBF processes.