Method and system for x-ray backscatter inspection of additive manufactured parts

1. A method for inspection of laser powder bed fusion additive manufactured parts and monitoring operational performance of a laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising:

obtaining, in real-time during a laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process, a backscatter x-ray scan of an area of a powder bed build platform, the powder bed build platform configured for supporting at least one part during the laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process;

evaluating in real-time during the formation of a layer of the additive manufacturing build process, by a processor, the backscatter x-ray scan to detect in real-time operational flaws during the build process, the evaluating including:

comparing one or more backscatter x-ray properties of the at least one part being built during laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process to a predefined computer-aided design specification of the at least one part, the predefined computer-aided design specification describing one or more target backscatter x-ray properties for the at least one part; and

determining, based on the evaluating, in real-time during the formation of a layer of the additive manufacturing build process, whether an operational flaw with the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus occurs or a defect in the at least one part occurs.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a backscatter x-ray system having an emitter that emits x-rays and a detector that receives backscattered x-rays.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the emitter and the detector of the backscatter x-ray system are located on a movable support located above the powder bed build platform, the movable support configured to raise and lower the emitter and the detector with respect to the powder bed build platform.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

calibrating the backscatter x-ray system by scanning one or more calibration blocks, the one or more calibration blocks having at least one known defect.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the operational flaw or the defect has occurred, modifying the laser powder bed fusion build process, and wherein the modifying (i) terminates building the part which is determined to exhibit the operational flaw or the defect, or (ii) building at a location of the powder bed build platform at which the operational flaw is determined to be exhibited, or (iii) modifying a laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus operational characteristic.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the operational flaw or the defect has occurred, modifying the laser powder bed fusion build process by modifying an operational characteristic of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus, the operational characteristic comprising at least one of:

laser power, laser speed, powder size, powder material, chamber temperature, laser spot size, or powder depth.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operational flaw comprises a malfunction of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus indicative that maintenance of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus is necessary, or the defect comprises a porosity indication greater than a predetermined threshold, a lack of fusion, a micro crack or a macro-crack.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining, based on the comparison, whether the at least one part is accurate to the computer-aided design specification.

9. A method for inspection of laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus additive manufactured parts and monitoring operational performance of a laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus, the method comprising:

positioning an emitter and a detector of a backscatter x-ray system at a desired position with respect to a powder bed build platform of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus, the desired position including at least one of a height above the powder bed build platform or an x-y location with respect to the powder bed build platform;

obtaining, in real-time during a laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process, a backscatter x-ray scan of an area of the powder bed build platform, the powder bed build platform configured for supporting at least one part during the laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process;

evaluating in real-time during the formation of a layer of the additive manufacturing build process, by a processor, the backscatter x-ray scan to detect in real-time operational flaws during the build process; and

determining, based on the evaluating, in real-time during the formation of a layer of the additive manufacturing build process, whether a defect in the at least one part occurs.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the emitter emits x-rays and the detector receives backscattered x-rays.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the emitter and the detector of the backscatter x-ray system are located on a movable support located above the powder bed build platform, the movable support configured to raise and lower the emitter and the detector with respect to the powder bed build platform.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

calibrating the backscatter x-ray system by scanning one or more calibration blocks, the one or more calibration blocks having at least one known defect.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the defect has occurred, modifying the laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process, and wherein the modifying (i) terminates building the part which is determined to exhibit the defect, or (ii) modifying an additive manufacturing apparatus operational characteristic.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, responsive to determining that the defect has occurred, modifying the laser powder bed fusion additively manufactured build process by modifying an operational characteristic of the laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing apparatus, the operational characteristic comprising at least one of:

laser power, laser speed, powder size, powder material, chamber temperature, laser spot size, or powder depth.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the defect comprises a porosity indication greater than a predetermined threshold, a lack of fusion, a micro crack or a macro-crack.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the evaluating further comprises comparing one or more backscatter x-ray properties of the at least one part as being built during a laser powder bed fusion build process to a computer-aided design specification describing one or more target backscatter x-ray properties for the at least one part, and wherein the determining comprises determining, based on the comparison, whether the at least one part is accurate to the computer-aided design specification.