On the Use of X-ray Computed Tomography in Assessment of 3D-Printed Components

Technical advantages of additive manufacturing (AM) have drawn great attention over the past few years. This cost-effective manufacturing process proved its potential applications in a wide range of fields. Although AM techniques (known as 3D printing) are able to fabricate geometrically complex components, it is necessary to evaluate internal and external dimensions of the printed parts. In this context, x-ray computed tomography (CT) as a nondestructive evaluation technique has been utilized. Indeed, CT can be used for geometric analysis, defects detection, quantitative comparison, structural quantification and porosity analysis. In the current study, we present a brief review of 3D printing processes and evolution of CT technology. Moreover, applications of CT in assessment of 3D-printed components are explained in detail. Although CT has been used in academic and industrial researches, abilities of this inspection method are not yet fully documented for precision engineering applications. In this work, usage of this technique in study of printed components are categorized in four subdomains and discussed. The documented data proved that CT is an appropriate non-contact technique for technical evaluation of various printed parts. As usage of CT in assessment of printed parts is still evolving, the limitations, challenges and future perspective are outlined.