Characterisation of the topography of metal additive surface features with different measurement technologies

Senin, Nicola; Thompson, Adam; Leach, Richard K.

Abstract

© 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd. The challenges of measuring the surface topography of metallic surfaces produced by additive manufacturing are investigated. The differences between measurements made using various optical and non-optical technologies, including confocal and focus-variation microscopy, coherence scanning interferometry and x-ray computed tomography, are examined. As opposed to concentrating on differences which may arise through computing surface texture parameters from measured topography datasets, a comparative analysis is performed focussing on investigation of the quality of the topographic reconstruction of a series of surface features. The investigation is carried out by considering the typical surface features of a metal powder-bed fusion process: weld tracks, weld ripples, attached particles and surface recesses. Results show that no single measurement technology provides a completely reliable rendition of the topographic features that characterise the metal powder-bed fusion process. However, through analysis of measurement discrepancies, light can be shed on where instruments are more susceptible to error, and why differences between measurements occur. The results presented in this work increase the understanding of the behaviour and performance of areal topography measurement, and thus promote the development of improved surface characterisation pipelines.

Citation

Senin, N., Thompson, A., & Leach, R. K. (2017). Characterisation of the topography of metal additive surface features with different measurement technologies. Measurement Science and Technology, 28(9), Article 095003. https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aa7ce2

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 30, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Aug 16, 2017
• Publication Date: Aug 16, 2017
• Deposit Date: Dec 6, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2018
• Journal: Measurement Science and Technology
• Print ISSN: 0957-0233
• Electronic ISSN: 1361-6501
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 095003
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aa7ce2
• Keywords: Surface metrology; Three dimensional topographic features; Additive manufacturing; Metal powder-bed fusion
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/877823
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/aa7ce2
• Additional Information: Journal title: Measurement Science and Technology; Article type: paper; Article title: Characterisation of the topography of metal additive surface features with different measurement technologies; Copyright information: © 2017 IOP Publishing Ltd; Date received: 2017-05-11; Date accepted: 2017-06-30; Online publication date: 2017-08-16