AI algorithm maps 3D printer “personalities” to cut manufacturing defects

Researchers at IMDEA Materials Institute in Madrid, together with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the United States, have created an artificial‑intelligence algorithm that builds a performance profile for each machine in a fleet, detecting subtle “personalities” even among identical 3‑D printers.

In tests on three nominally identical printers, the system identified measurable differences, applied individual optimisation where needed, and achieved faster convergence and a substantial reduction in weight‑error of printed parts. The method is presented as applicable to any high‑throughput equipment such as sensors, chemical‑synthesis rigs, and materials‑discovery platforms.