Improving additive manufacturing with accurate surface metrology

In the past few years, manufacturing has undergone a series of major evolutions. Standard formative techniques (molding, injecting, casting, stamping, forging) and subtractive processes (CNC milling and turning, drilling, cutting) have been challenged by new, rapidly growing disruptive technologies, such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, and laser surface texturing, among others. This application note positions some of these new technologies versus legacy approaches to understand the underlying parameters and challenges. Bruker Nano also discusses how Bruker 3D optical profiling technologies fit into new and evolving manufacturing approaches. Finally, several case studies illustrate how optical profiling can contribute to the optimization of new manufacturing processes.