ABSTRACT
The process of calibrating a laser scanner system in additive manufacturing applications can be expensive and lengthy if the standard build materials and powders are used. A method is presented to calibrate the process parameters for a laser scanner. Patterns scanned on thermally reactive paper are analysed using image processing to ascertain the optimal parameter value. Samples were tested at varying mark speed and analysed using an image-processing algorithm. The ideal process values were obtained and an approximation curve was created to predict the delay parameters any mark speed. The data contained in the approximation curve was verified by selecting an alternative mark speed and then retesting using the image processing technique found that delay parameters can accurately be predicted within 20µs.
