Smart camera system inspects 3D prints layer by layer, 100,000 times faster than human

Lawrence Livermore Laboratory developed a camera and AI system to monitor direct ink writing 3D printing in real time. The system measures filament diameter to micrometer accuracy and analyzes images in milliseconds—about 100,000 times faster than manual measurements.

• Cameras on the printer and AI segmentation check each layer in real time
• Model trained on ~15,000 labeled images of lattice structures
• On 55 parts, automated measurements matched manual ones within micrometers
• One layer from ~2,500 images produced a filament diameter distribution map