Abstract
Numerous efforts have been carried out over the years to improve process control in the thermal spray industry. Among those, the need for online monitoring of the thickness of the coating is unquestionable as it leads directly to better uniformity, less powder usage and increased productivity. In 2006, a new technology based on 3D profiling has been adapted to the thermal spraying environment and has shown conclusive results for online real-time monitoring of the thickness of single layers as they were being sprayed. A micron level resolution was achieved independently of the process, the powder and the thermal effects related to thermal spraying. In this paper, we present the latest results from early industrial implementations. New applications of this technology for substrate geometries with increased complexity are also investigated.
