Additive manufacturing as a key technology in medical technology
Additive manufacturing currently represents a potential key technology for the production of geometrically highly complex components in numerous industrial sectors. Laser-based Powder Bed Fusion of Metals in particular holds great potential for the manufacturing of patient-specific implants in medical technology due to its freedom in geometry design and cost-effectiveness for small quantities.
In this context, the control and monitoring of the raw material, i.e. the powder materials to be processed, is of particular relevance in terms of quality assurance of the implants. According to the current state of the art, not all interrelationships along the powder process chain are fully recorded, which is why the potential of the manufacturing technology is not fully exploited.