User:Martin Todd

Having finished an MEng in Computer and Electronic Engineering at University of Nottingham in 2023 I then joined the Optics and Photonics Research Group to study for a PhD, funded through the UK Research Centre in NDE (RCNDE). The PhD project focuses on integrating SRAS instrumentation into a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) metal 3D printing machine for in-situ measurements that can help develop on-the-fly build parameter adjustments for microstructural control and on-the-fly repairs during the manufacturing process.

The project will last 4 years and aims to have a fully functional prototype capable of operating inside an operational LPBF printer, taking measurements between layers to provide microstructural information and defect detection. Ultimately the aim is to be able to provide a feedback loop that can be integrated into build strategies to reduce the cost from failed builds and to increase confidence in final parts. This will help further the commercial applications for additive manufacturing by increasing customer confidence and providing insights for material engineers.

As of January 2025 I am employed as a researcher for the Adaptive Laser Induced Phased Array (ALIPA) project with the Nottingham OPG. This project focuses on using robot arms to manipulate samples and laser sources to perform Laser Ultrasound measurements on flaws within the bulk of metal objects with complex geometries. This project is scheduled (as of start date) to last until October at which point I will continue my PhD project on developing instrumentation for in-situ monitoring of additive manufacturing using spatially resolved acoustic spectroscopy.