Modelling and monitoring of complex 3D shapes a novel approach for lattice structures

The industrial breakthrough of novel manufacturing paradigms, like additive manufacturing, enables the production of innovative shapes, characterized by complex 3D structures going beyond more 2.5D free-form surfaces and other geometries produced with traditional methods. This opens novel challenges for product qualification and statistical process monitoring. This study focuses on a category of complex shapes known as lattice structures (or metamaterials), where a unit cell regularly repeats in space to achieve advanced mechanical and functional performances. We present a novel solution for statistical process monitoring of these structures, aimed at identifying local out-of-control cells within- and between-parts.