The DIQACAM project aims at improving the quality of Additive Manufacturing high-performance ceramics, thereby guaranteeing the highest quality standards, by developing an at- and inline process monitoring system. Inline process monitoring is an essential, currently still missing step to ensure the quality and functionality of high-performance ceramic components, produced by lithography-based additive manufacturing (LCM-AM). We propose to develop and implement novel quality control by connecting advanced sensor and imaging technologies, i.e. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for non-destructive testing and digital defect identification for layer-by-layer 3D print inspection in LCM-AM. OCT imaging in near- and mid-infrared spectral range, which is most suitable for ceramic layers, can be extended here by Terahertz and Laser-Ultrasound sensing to provide a complete AM ceramics testing system.

The project partners - the Austrian SME Lithoz GmbH, the Austrian Research Center for Non-Destructive Testing (RECENDT), and the French photonics SME Leukos - will make use by including the latest advances in supercontinuum (SC) lasers for non-destructive testing of ceramics. The LCM-AM process control will also be improved by the introduction of image-based surveillance, as well as machine learning-based defect classification and feedback. The outcome of this project will enhance LCM-AM processes and printers by increasing process reliability, resulting in fewer defects and a lower fault ratio in AM high performance ceramic components.