About
Riccardo Sorrill
Postgraduate Researcher
UCD
Riccardo completed his undergraduate degree in Material Science at the University of Milano-Bicocca, where he graduated with a thesis on semiconductor thin films for solar cell application. After brief work experience in the R&D section of a high-precision and cutting-edge metallurgical company, he developed a strong interest in engineering and especially in metals applications.
His research at I-Form is focused on developing in-process methodologies to enhance control and quality of the additive manufacturing printing process. Improving process development and control will support increased adoption of additive manufacturing in various industries, from aerospace to biomedical engineering.
Technical Summary
The research focuses on the optimization part quality for components manufactured using laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB).
The objective of this study is to establish a correlation between the data collected and recorded during the printing process, using multi-sensor systems, and the resulting final product. Quality and control are the aspects under consideration. The quality aspect involves the establishment of a relationship between the parameters of the machine and feedstock and the ultimate outcome of the print. This will enable us to predict the quality of the produced parts. The control aspect involves the development of a system that is capable of identifying faults and defects in real-time. This allows for on-the-fly adjustments of process parameters to ensure the maintenance of part quality. In this work, two high-frequency, on-axis photodiode devices will be used to monitor melt pools in real time. The integration of these monitoring systems into commercial PBF-LB machines is a major advancement in quality assurance, enhancing the feasibility of additive manufacturing for the creation of valuable components.