Procedure and validation of the implementation of automated sensor integration kinematics in an LPBF system

The in-situ integration of sensors into additive manufactured (AM) components is becoming increasingly important and moving into the focus of current research. However, manual sensor integration during the metal- and laser-based powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is usually associated with long process downtimes, the loss of the shielding gas atmosphere and a change in component temperature. The resulting effects are e.g. changed mechanical properties. Therefore, one way to avoid these effects is presented by automated sensor integration. A procedure for the design of kinematics to meet the requirements is presented and experimentally validated. As a result, a functional automation unit in an LPBF plant is presented.