Research Areas
At Auburn University, the AMICS Lab advances additive manufacturing—especially laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF)—by integrating high-resolution sensing, instrumentation, data analytics, and feedback control. Leveraging multi-physics in-situ measurements with machine learning, we investigate fundamental melt-pool physics, invent high-performance sensing technology, and translate those insights into closed-loop control on custom L-PBF platforms, stabilizing builds and improving quality.
AI-Assisted Sensing and NDE
Develop in-situ sensing and NDE that fuse optical/thermal signals with machine learning to detect defects in real time and build richer quality maps.
Fundamentals of L-PBF Physics
Reveal the key driven physics of melt pool dynamics and its relation with process parameters to inform optimal process windows.
Sensor-Driven L-PBF Control
Use sensor feedback to regulate melt-pool geometry and thermal history to prevent defects and assign site-specific microstructures.
Recent News
Beam-shaping LPBF experiments with OSU & AMET
AMICS Lab teamed with Oregon State University and AMET, Inc. to run beam-shaping LPBF trials. Programmable beam profiles (e.g., ring/top-hat, dynamic shaping) can widen the process window, stabilize melt pools, and boost build rates—recent studies and industry reports show multi-fold productivity gains with shaped beams. Our experiments target major throughput increases (aiming for ~30×) while maintaining quality.
IISE M&D Best Student Paper Award: Thiraj Wegala
Thiraj Wegala received the IISE Manufacturing & Design Division Best Student Paper Award for “In-Situ Porosity Detection in LPBF Using Machine Learning-Augmented Ultrasonic Emissions,” recognized at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta (May 31–June 3, 2025). Congratulations Thiraj, keep up the great work!
Our Dual-laser beam-shaping LPBF testbed is nearly ready!
We’re finalizing an open-architecture LPBF research platform with two independently addressable lasers and programmable beam shaping—built for rapid scan-strategy studies, in-situ sensing, and closed-loop control. Beam shaping and multi-laser operation can widen the process window, stabilize melt pools, and boost productivity while enabling microstructure tailoring; our open platform exposes full control and monitoring hooks to accelerate AM research.
Argonne APS: In-situ synchrotron diffraction with OSU & NIST
AMICS Lab teamed with Oregon State University and NIST at Argonne’s Advanced Photon Source to conduct in-situ synchrotron diffraction experiments on metal additive manufacturing. Using APS’s ultrabright X-rays—generated by electrons accelerated to ~99.999999% of the speed of light—we probed fast sub-surface physics in L-PBF to advance high-fidelity process understanding.
Oregon State University seminar: In-situ monitoring & control in L-PBF
Dr. Wang was invited to Oregon State University to present AMICS Lab’s work on in-situ monitoring and control for laser powder bed fusion, highlighting recent advances in high-resolution sensing and closed-loop process control for metal AM.
Collaborators
