Fundamental Requirements for Data Representations in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes intertwine aspects of many different engineering-related disciplines, such as material metrology, design, in-situ and off-line measurements, and controls. Due to the increasing complexity of AM systems and processes, data cannot be shared among heterogeneous systems because of a lack of a common vocabulary and data interoperability methods.This paper aims to address insufficiencies in laser-based Powder Bed Fusion (PBF), a specific AM process, data representations to improve data management and reuse in PBF. Our approach is to formally decompose the processes and align PBF process-specifics with information elements as fundamental requirements for representing process-related data. The paper defines the organization and flow of process information. After modeling selected PBF processes and sub-processes as activities, we discuss requirements for the development of more advanced process data models that provide common terminology and process knowledge for managing data from various stages in AM.

Digital Twin-enabled Collaborative Data Management for Metal Additive Manufacturing Systems

“…Based on the conceptual data model, Lu et al [16] further developed an AM database schema using Unified Modelling Language (UML), which was used as the foundation of the metal AM data management system introduced previously. To address the data interoperability issue in metal AM, Feng et al [21,22] developed an activity model for structuring process-related PBF data, by decomposing the entire PBF process (including design, process planning, fabrication, inspection and quality control) into specific activities and identifying the inputs, outputs, mechanisms and controls of each activity. Later, Kim et al [23] developed AM data models in the form of data packages (in XML format) upon the activity model.…”