Electron Beam-Melting and Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Ti6Al4V: Transferability of Process Parameters

Abstract

Metal powder bed-based Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies, such as Electron Beam-Melting (EBM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), are established in several industries due to the large design freedom and mechanical properties. While EBM and LPBF have similar operating steps, process-specific characteristics influence the component design. The differences in the energy coupling lead to differing solidification conditions, microstructures, and, thus, mechanical properties. The surface finish and geometrical accuracy are also affected. As opposed to LPBF, EBM powder layers are preheated prior to selective melting. In this study, similar volume energy densities in LPBF and EBM were used to manufacture Ti6Al4V test geometries to assess the process transferability. Since the energy coupling of LPBF and EBM differ, heat source absorption was considered when calculating the volume energy density. Even when a similar volume energy density was used, significant differences in the component quality were found in this study due to specific respective process constraints. The extent of these constrains was investigated on voluminous samples and support-free overhanging structures. Overhang angles up to 90° were manufactured with LPBF and EBM, and characterized with regard to the relative density, surface roughness, and geometric compliance.

Designing of gradient scaffolds and their applications in tissue regeneration

“…In another technique of PBD that uses tungsten electron beam instead of laser light to fuse metal powder particles in layer-by-layer fashion under vacuum condition is called Electron Beam Melting (EBM). However, the process requires a base material that is conductive in nature [69]. In a study, the authors have taken the advantage of EBM combined with computational biology to interconnect the foamed structure inside the scaffold.…”

Efects of scan speed and laser power at the geometic quality of materials manufactured using Selective Laser Fusion SLF

“…Diferentes autores han descrito que la modificación de los parámetros de manufactura afecta la calidad geométrica y superficial de la pieza que se está manufacturando, al igual que algunas propiedades mecánicas de la pieza [13], [23], [24], [25].…”