Embedded product authentication codes in additive manufactured parts: Imaging and image processing for improved scan...

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Image Processing

Background:

• Additive manufacturing offers novel methods for embedding identification codes within components.
• Increased counterfeit part risks necessitate advanced authentication technologies, particularly for aerospace and medical devices.
• Embedded codes require reliable reading methods, with micro-Computed Tomography (micro-CT) being a key imaging technique.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop image processing techniques for enhancing the quality of micro-CT scanned codes.
• To address challenges of low contrast and imaging artifacts in recovered code images.
• To enable interpretation of embedded codes by standard code reader technology, including smartphone applications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized layer-by-layer printing in additive manufacturing to embed Quick Response (QR) codes.
• Applied image processing techniques, including Mathematical Morphology and optimal image filtering for de-noising.
• Tested methods on titanium and aluminum alloy specimens containing embedded QR codes.

Main Results:

• Successfully improved the quality of micro-CT scanned code images.
• Overcame inherent low contrast and imaging artifacts.
• Achieved scannability of embedded QR codes using standard smartphone applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed image processing methods effectively enhance the readability of embedded codes from micro-CT scans.
• This technology provides a robust solution for product authentication and counterfeit detection in critical applications.
• The proposed techniques facilitate the use of accessible smartphone technology for verifying component authenticity.