X-Ray Microcomputed Tomography in Additive Manufacturing: A Review of the Current Technology and Applications

Abstract

X-ray microcomputed tomography (microCT) has become an established method of testing and analyzing additively manufactured parts in recent years, being especially useful and accurate for dimensional measurement and porosity analysis. While this nondestructive analysis method is gaining traction among additive manufacturing (AM) researchers and engineers, the capabilities of the method are not yet fully appreciated and are still being developed. This review aims to summarize the many diverse ways this technique has been applied to AM, including new and specialized applications. Examples are shown of many of these newly developed methods, while also discussing the practicality and limitations of each. The review ends with perspectives on the most time-and cost-effective ways to make use of microCT for various AM applications from R&D up to industrial production, with suggestions for scan strategies for different types of analyses.