scholarly journals Effect of Hatch Spacing on Melt Pool and As-built Quality During Selective Laser Melting of Stainless Steel: Modeling and Experimental Approaches

Materials ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhichao Dong ◽  
Yabo Liu ◽  
Weibin Wen ◽  
Jingran Ge ◽  
Jun Liang
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Melt Pool Size ◽  
Overlap Rate ◽  
Hatch Spacing

In this study, a combined simulation and experimental approach is utilized to investigate the influence of hatch spacing on the microstructure and as-built quality of 316L stainless steel (SS) samples fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). A three-dimensional finite element model (FEM) is employed to investigate heat transfer and melt pool during the SLM of 316L SS. The phase transformation and variation of the thermo-physical properties of the materials are considered in this model. The effects of hatch spacing (H) on the temperature field, microstructure and melt pool size, overlap rate, surface quality, and relative density during the SLM of 316L SS are investigated. The simulated results indicate that, as the hatch spacing increases, the depth increases and the width of the melt pool decreases. Meanwhile, with the increase of hatch spacing, the simulated temperature of the subsequent tracks falls below the melting temperature of the first track. Moreover, the microstructures were found to coarsen with the increasing hatch spacing due to the reduced cooling rate. The optimized hatch spacing and overlap rate between adjacent tracks were obtained from numerical simulations. Simulation results illustrate that, when the optimized hatch spacing of 100 μm is adopted, fully dense parts with a smooth surface can be fabricated by SLM, thus experimentally validating the simulation results.

scholarly journals Numerical Investigation of Thermo-Mechanical Field during Selective Laser Melting Process with Experimental Validation

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1003
Author(s):  
Lan Li ◽  
Frank Liou
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Thermal Stresses ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Solidification Structure ◽  
Temperature History ◽  
304L Stainless Steel ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Melt Pool Size

In this study, thermo-mechanical simulation was conducted to predict thermal and stress behavior in Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Temperature-dependent material properties for processed material 304L stainless steel were incorporated into the model in order to capture the change from powder to fully dense solid stainless steel. Temperature and thermal stress history were tracked under conditions of different parameter sets which were designed to reduce defect formation. The thermal model predicted the temperature history for multi-track scans under different process parameters, such as laser power, effective scanning speed and hatch spacing. Subsequently, the corresponding melt-pool size, solidification rate and temperature gradients could be calculated from simulated temperature data. These three parameters from the simulation were compared with experimental melt pool size, grain structure and cell spacing data obtained from a Renishaw AM250. The experimental data were also used to determine unknown simulation parameters required by the continuum model, e.g., the optical penetration depth and thermal conductivity multiplier for the molten region. This allowed the simulation model to accurately predict melt pool size and solidification structure of SLM 304L stainless steel. Simulated stress showed that the subsequent thermal cyclic melting in successive scanned tracks resulted in alternating compressive and tensile thermal stresses. This work will provide insight for studying microstructure morphology, residual stress and deformations in the SLM process of 304L stainless steel.

Estimation of melt pool size by complementary use of external illumination and process emission in coaxial monitoring of selective laser melting

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 022305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Pacher ◽  
Luca Mazzoleni ◽  
Leonardo Caprio ◽  
Ali Gökhan Demir ◽  
Barbara Previtali
Keyword(s):  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Pool Size ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Melt Pool Size

scholarly journals Effect of process parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA2024 fabricated using selective laser melting

2020 ◽  
Vol 112 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 175-192
Author(s):  
Mulla Ahmet Pekok ◽  
Rossitza Setchi ◽  
Michael Ryan ◽  
Quanquan Han ◽  
Dongdong Gu
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Scanning Speed ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Incomplete Fusion ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
2024 Alloy ◽  
Manufacturing Techniques ◽  
Melt Pool Size

AbstractSelective laser melting (SLM) offers significant benefits, including geometric freedom and rapid production, when compared with traditional manufacturing techniques. However, the materials available for SLM production remain limited, restricting the industrial adoption of the technology. The mechanical properties and microstructure of many aluminium alloys have not been fully explored, as their manufacturability using SLM is extremely challenging. This study investigates the effect of laser power, hatch spacing and scanning speed on the mechanical and microstructural properties of as-fabricated aluminium 2024 alloy (AA2024) manufactured using SLM. The results reveal that almost crack-free structures with high relative density (99.9%) and Archimedes density (99.7%) have been achieved. It is shown that when using low energy density (ED) levels, large cracks and porosities are a major problem, owing to incomplete fusion; however, small gas pores are prevalent at high-energy densities due to the dissolved gas particles in the melt pool. An inversely proportional relationship between ED and microhardness has also been observed. Lower ED decreases the melt pool size and temperature gradients but increases the cooling rate, creating a fine-grained microstructure, which restricts dislocation movement, therefore increasing the microhardness. The highest microhardness (116 HV0.2), which was obtained from one of the lowest EDs used (100 J/mm3), is 45% higher than as-cast AA2024-0, but 17% lower than wrought AA2024-T6 alloy.

Numerical Investigation of Selective Laser Melting Process for 904L Stainless Steel

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miranda Fateri ◽  
Andreas Gebhardt ◽  
Maziar Khosravi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Melting Process ◽  
Full Density ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Scanning Velocity ◽  
Selective Laser Melting Process ◽  
Fine Mesh ◽  
Melt Pool

Selective Laser Melting process (SLM) is an important manufacturing method for producing complex geometries which allows for creation of full density parts with similar properties as the bulk material without extensive post processing. In SLM process, laser power, beam focus diameter, and scanning velocity must be precisely set based on the material properties in order to produce dense parts. In this study, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) method is employed in order to simulate and analyze a single layer of 904L Stainless Steel. A three-dimensional transient thermal model of the SLM process based on phase change enthalpy, irradiation scattering, and heat conductivity of powder is developed. The laser beam is modeled as a moving heat flux on the surface of the layer using a fine mesh which allows for a variation of the shape and distribution of the beam. In this manner, various Gaussian distributions are investigated and compared against single and multi-element heat flux sources. The melt pool and temperature distribution in the part are numerically investigated in order to determine the effects of varying laser intensity, scanning velocity as well as preheating temperature. The results of the simulation are verified by comparing the melt pool width as a function of power and velocity against the experimentally obtained results. Lastly, 3D objects are fabricated with a SLM 50 Desktop machine using the acquired optimized process parameters.

scholarly journals Analysis of laser–melt pool–powder bed interaction during the selective laser melting of a stainless steel

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 022303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valérie Gunenthiram ◽  
Patrice Peyre ◽  
Matthieu Schneider ◽  
Morgan Dal ◽  
Frédéric Coste ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool

scholarly journals Feedback Control of Melt Pool Area in Selective Laser Melting Additive Manufacturing Process

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1547
Author(s):  
Syed Zahid Hussain ◽  
Zareena Kausar ◽  
Zafar Ullah Koreshi ◽  
Shakil R. Sheikh ◽  
Hafiz Zia Ur Rehman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Feedback Control ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Manufacturing Process ◽  
Thermal Model ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Melt Pool Size ◽  
Pool Area

Selective laser melting (SLM), a metal powder fusion additive manufacturing process, has the potential to manufacture complex components for aerospace and biomedical implants. Large-scale adaptation of these technologies is hampered due to the presence of defects such as porosity and part distortion. Nonuniform melt pool size is a major cause of these defects. The melt pool size changes due to heat from the previous powder bed tracks. In this work, the effect of heat sourced from neighbouring tracks was modelled and feedback control was designed. The objective of control is to regulate the melt pool cross-sectional area rejecting the effect of heat from neighbouring tracks within a layer of the powder bed. The SLM process’s thermal model was developed using the energy balance of lumped melt pool volume. The disturbing heat from neighbouring tracks was modelled as the initial temperature of the melt pool. Combining the thermal model with disturbance model resulted in a nonlinear model describing melt pool evolution. The PID, a classical feedback control approach, was used to minimize the effect of intertrack disturbance on the melt pool area. The controller was tuned for the desired melt pool area in a known environment. Simulation results revealed that the proposed controller regulated the desired melt pool area during the scan of multiple tracks of a powder layer within 16 milliseconds and within a length of 0.04 mm reducing laser power by 10% approximately in five tracks. This reduced the chance of pore formation. Hence, it enhances the quality of components manufactured using the SLM process, reducing defects.

scholarly journals Selective Laser Melting of 316L Austenitic Stainless Steel: Detailed Process Understanding Using Multiphysics Simulation and Experimentation

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1076
Author(s):  
Peyman Ansari ◽  
Asif Ur Rehman ◽  
Fatih Pitir ◽  
Salih Veziroglu ◽  
Yogendra Kumar Mishra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Stainless Steel 316L ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Homogeneous Microstructure ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
316L Austenitic Stainless Steel ◽  
Melt Pool Temperature ◽  
Mathematical Relationships

The parameter sets used during the selective laser melting (SLM) process directly affect the final product through the resulting melt-pool temperature. Achieving the optimum set of parameters is usually done experimentally, which is a costly and time-consuming process. Additionally, controlling the deviation of the melt-pool temperature from the specified value during the process ensures that the final product has a homogeneous microstructure. This study proposes a multiphysics numerical model that explores the factors affecting the production of parts in the SLM process and the mathematical relationships between them, using stainless steel 316L powder. The effect of laser power and laser spot diameter on the temperature of the melt-pool at different scanning velocities were studied. Thus, mathematical expressions were obtained to relate process parameters to melt-pool temperature. The resulting mathematical relationships are the basic elements to design a controller to instantly control the melt-pool temperature during the process. In the study, test samples were produced using simulated parameters to validate the simulation approach. Samples produced using simulated parameter sets resulting in temperatures of 2000 K and above had acceptable microstructures. Evaporation defects caused by extreme temperatures, unmelted powder defects due to insufficient temperature, and homogenous microstructures for suitable parameter sets predicted by the simulations were obtained in the experimental results, and the model was validated.

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