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
Advancing Metal AM: Visit from SUNY Buffalo and UT Arlington
Drs. Yu Jin of SUNY Buffalo and Chen Kan of UT Arlington visited our AMICS Lab this week! Dr. Jin focuses on manufacturing process optimization, and Dr. Kan on sensor-based monitoring and machine learning for AM and smart health. We are looking forward to advancing the next generation of metal AM with you all!
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.
Collaborators
