Abstract
This study proposes an image based inspection and monitoring system for a new type of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology using plastic material. During the manufacturing process, the quality is difficult to control due to insufficient inspection methods to detect defects in the FDM processes. The quality of FDM products are difficult to be controlled. Therefore, this study proposes image-based detection mechanisms. During the process of FDM, the images of the nozzle is captured by the monitoring system. The height and the width information can be acquired by the images. When the gray-scale value difference of adjacent surfaces of extruded material is at least four percent, a criterion can be established according to experimental result in this study. The extruded material meets the production standards when it satisfies the following conditions: the width and height variations of specific frame series should be under 20 percent and 40 percent respectively in both short and long term frame intervals, defined in this study. Monitoring systems can detect whether there are any abnormal circumstances by determining variations in both width and height from images.