An Open Quality Control Format for (Additive) Manufacturing Down to Lotsize 1

The rapid advancements in automated manufacturing, particularly in additive manufacturing processes like 3D printing have significantly transformed production capabilities. As 3D printing technology becomes increasingly affordable and reliable, its application in producing complex geometries unattainable by conventional production methods is expanding. Concurrently, the acceleration of 3D printing speeds is reducing the efficiency gap between additive manufacturing and other conventional production methods. This paper addresses the growing need for a robust quality control system capable of handling the complexities of highly customized products - enabled by the widespread adoption of 3D printing technology - while also considering conventional production methods. The proposed system not only performs precise geometric inspections but also verifies customizations made through additional manufacturing processes, such as laser marking. To support this system, this paper introduces a novel file format designed to contain all necessary quality control information, ensuring a solution that is agnostic of specific hardware and software. This approach aims to meet the stringent quality demands of modern, personalized production while facilitating seamless integration into existing manufacturing workflows.