Integration of RFID tag in additive manufactured parts

Abstract

This paper discusses the integration of on-metal tags in additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V geometries. The manufactured components are to be equipped with information and read out due to aircraft maintenance work. Due to the complex installation and the mostly insufficient accessibility of the component in the installed state in the aircraft, a high read range and readability is mandatory. The integration involves ultra-high-frequency tags, which should promise a long range. The readability of the tags was therefore investigated in different open geometries. Here, some of the integrated tags were readable. In addition, tags were completely embedded in order to understand the effects in the component. The focus here was on the effects in the embedding chamber of the tag. Therefore, the fully embedded tags were cut open and examined. Some tags were readable, others were destroyed during the process. This was due, among other things, to the very hot environment of the process, as this depends highly on the actual permitted operating temperature of the tags. In addition, powder residues and adhesions were noted. These aspects are crucial for subsequent research involving the integration of tags.