Experimental Investigation of Selective Laser Melting of Lunar Regolith for In-Situ Applications

Author(s):  
Miranda Fateri ◽  
Andreas Gebhardt ◽  
Maziar Khosravi

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a powder based Additive manufacturing (AM) technology which builds an object layer wise using a laser beam to melt the powder on an elevated platform. Thus far numerous studies have investigated lunar manufacturing methods and construction but little is known about applicability of SLM of lunar regolith. As most lunar construction proposals require transportation of essential materials from Earth, using an in-situ manufacturing method with indigenous material would be considerably more economical. Fabrication of parts with SLM using various metals and ceramics has already been presented. As such, the feasibility of using lunar regolith mixture to create functional parts with SLM process is investigated. Variation of process parameters such as laser power, scan speed, and scan strategies is investigated and multiple 3D objects are successfully created and presented.

2018 ◽  
Vol 786 ◽  
pp. 348-355
Author(s):  
Terho Iso-Junno ◽  
Kimmo Mäkelä ◽  
Kari Mäntyjärvi ◽  
Tero Jokelainen

Metal 3D AM (Additive Manufacturing) has been becoming a more common production method for larger variety of parts. In this review the current situation and future development trends of the 3D metal AM are presented, concentrating on the SLM (Selective Laser Melting) technology. A holistic approach to the AM as a digital manufacturing method is presented and different manufacturing aspects of the AM production are identified. The most promising aspects for the future development are the automatization of the AM design tasks and automatization of the production. With the development of these aspects the production and cost efficiency of the metal AM can be increased to a more competitive level compared with other manufacturing methods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 861 ◽  
pp. 77-82
Author(s):  
Gan Li ◽  
Cheng Guo ◽  
Wen Feng Guo ◽  
Hong Xing Lu ◽  
Lin Ju Wen ◽  
...  

This study investigated the effect of laser power (P), scan speed (v) and hatch space (h) on densification behavior, surface quality and hardness of 18Ni300 maraging steel fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM). The results indicated that the relative density of the SLMed samples has a shape increase from 73% to 97% with the laser energy density increasing from 0.5 to 2.2 J/mm2. The relative density ≥ 99% was achieved at the energy density in the range of 2.2~5.9 J/mm2. The optimum process parameters were found to be laser power of 150~200 W, scan speed of 600mm/s and hatch space of 0.105mm. In addition, it was found that the hardness increased initially with the increasing relative density up to relative density of 90% and then little relationship, but finally increase again significantly. This work provides reference for determining process parameters for SLMed maraging steel and the development of 3D printing of die steels.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 871-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haihua Wu ◽  
Junfeng Li ◽  
Zhengying Wei ◽  
Pei Wei

Purpose To fabricate a selective laser melting (SLM)-processed AlSi10Mg part with almost full density and free of any apparent pores, this study aims to investigate the effect of ambient argon pressure and laser scanning speed on the particles splash during the AlSi10Mg powder bed laser melting. Design/methodology/approach Based on the discrete element method (DEM), a 3D model of random distribution of powder particles was established, and the 3D free surface of SLM forming process was dynamically tracked by the volume of fluid, where a Gaussian laser beam acts as the energy source melting the powder bed. Through the numerical simulation and process experimental research, the effect of the applied laser power and scanning speed on the operating laser melting temperature was studied. Findings The process stability has a fundamental role in the porosity formation, which is process-dependent. The effect of the processing conditions on the process stability and the resultant forming defects were clarified. Research limitations/implications The results shows that the pores were the main defects present in the SLM-processed AlSi10Mg sample, which decreases the densification level of the sample. Practical implications The optimal processing parameters (argon pressure of 1,000 Pa, laser power of 180 W, scan speed of 1,000 mm/s, powder layer thickness of 35 µm and hatch spacing of 50 µm ) applied during laser melting can improve the quality of selective laser melting of AlSi10Mg, Social implications It can provide a technological support for 3D printing. Originality/value Based on the analysis of the pore and balling formation mechanisms, the optimal processing parameters have been obtained, which were argon pressure of 1,000 Pa, laser power of 180 W, scan speed of 1,000 mm/s, powder layer thickness of 35 µm and hatch spacing of 50 µm. Then, a near-fully dense sample free of any apparent pores on the cross-sectional microstructure was produced by SLM, wherein the relative density of the as-built samples is larger than 97.5%.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 3720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatevik Minasyan ◽  
Sofiya Aydinyan ◽  
Ehsan Toyserkani ◽  
Irina Hussainova

The laser power bed fusion approach has been successfully employed to manufacture Mo(Si,Al)2-based composites through the selective laser melting of a MoSi2-30 wt.% AlSi10Mg mixture for high-temperature structural applications. Composites were manufactured by leveraging the in situ reaction of the components during printing at 150–300 W laser power, 500–1000 mm·s−1 laser scanning speed, and 100–134 J·mm−3 volumetric energy density. Microcomputed tomography scans indicated a negligible induced porosity throughout the specimens. The fully dense Mo(Si1-x,Alx)2-based composites, with hardness exceeding 545 HV1 and low roughness for both the top (horizontal) and side (vertical) surfaces, demonstrated that laser-based additive manufacturing can be exploited to create unique structures containing hexagonal Mo(Si0.67Al0.33)2.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 423-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke N. Carter ◽  
Khamis Essa ◽  
Moataz M Attallah

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to optimise the selective laser melting (SLM) process parameters for CMSX486 to produce a “void free” (fully consolidated) material, whilst reducing the cracking density to a minimum providing the best possible fabricated material for further post-processing. SLM of high temperature nickel base superalloys has had limited success due to the susceptibly of the material to solidification and reheat cracking. Design/methodology/approach – Samples of CMSX486 were fabricated by SLM. Statistical design of experiments (DOE) using the response surface method was used to generate an experimental design and investigate the influence of the key process parameters (laser power, scan speed, scan spacing and island size). A stereological technique was used to quantify the internal defects within the material, providing two measured responses: cracking density and void per cent. Findings – The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine the most significant process parameters and showed that laser power, scan speed and the interaction between the two are significant parameters when considering the cracking density. Laser power, scan speed, scan spacing and the interaction between power and speed, and speed and spacing were the significant factors when considering void per cent. The optimum setting of the process parameters that lead to minimum cracking density and void per cent was obtained. It was shown that the nominal energy density can be used to identify a threshold for the elimination of large voids; however, it does not correlate well to the formation of cracks within the material. To validate the statistical approach, samples were produced using the predicted optimum parameters in an attempt to validate the response surface model. The model showed good prediction of the void per cent; however, the cracking results showed a greater deviation from the predicted value. Originality/value – This is the first ever study on SLM of CMSX486. The paper shows that provided that the process parameters are optimised, SLM has the potential to provide a low-cost route for the small batch production of high temperature aerospace components.


Author(s):  
Hideki Kyogoku ◽  
Takeshi Uemori ◽  
Akihiko Ikuta ◽  
Kenichi Yoshikawa ◽  
Hitoshi Ohmori

In this study, the fabrication conditions of WC cemented carbides by direct selective laser melting were investigated. The effects of additives, such as Co, Cu-20%Sn and Cu powders, and laser scanning conditions on laser sintering process were examined to fabricate a sound laser-scanned body of WC cemented carbides. The optimum laser power, scan speed and scan pitch were found out by experiments. It was found that the continuously smooth single-scan track can be obtained at a lower laser power and a higher scan speed by the addition of 30% Cu powder. The smooth surface of the laser-scanned body could be fabricated at a laser power of 9 W, a scan speed of 20 mm/s and a scan pitch of 0.05 mm.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 760
Author(s):  
Dongqi Zhang ◽  
Jie Yu ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Xin Zhou ◽  
Changhui Song ◽  
...  

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a layer by layer process of melting and solidifying of metal powders. The surface quality of the previous layer directly affects the uniformity of the next layer. If the surface roughness value of the previous layer is large, there is the possibility of not being able to complete the layering process such that the entire process has to be abandoned. At least, it may result in long term durability problem and the inhomogeneity, may even make the processed structure not be able to be predicted. In the present study, the ability of a fiber laser to in-situ polish the rough surfaces of four typical additive-manufactured alloys, namely, Ti6Al4V, AlSi10Mg, 316L and IN718 was demonstrated. The results revealed that the surface roughness of the as-received alloys could be reduced to about 3 μm through the application of the laser-polishing process, and the initial surfaces had roughness values of 8.80–16.64 μm. Meanwhile, for a given energy density, a higher laser power produced a laser-polishing effect that was often more obvious, with the surface roughness decreasing with an increase in the laser power. Further, the polishing strategy will be optimized by simulation in our following study.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasan Dadbakhsh ◽  
Liang Hao

In situreaction was activated in the powder mixture of Al/5 wt.%Fe2O3by using selective laser melting (SLM) to directly fabricate aluminium metal matrix composite parts. The microstructural characteristics of thesein situconsolidated parts through SLM were investigated under the influence of thick powder bed, 75 μm layer thickness, and 50 μm layer thickness in various laser powers and scanning speeds. It was found that the layer thickness has a strong influence on microstructural outcome, mainly attributed to its impact on oxygen content of the matrix. Various microstructural features (such as granular, coralline-like, and particulate appearance) were observed depending on the layer thickness, laser power, and scanning speed. This was associated with various material combinations such as pure Al, Al-Fe intermetallics, and Al(-Fe) oxide phases formed afterin situreaction and laser rapid solidification. Uniformly distributed very fine particles could be consolidated in net-shape Al composite parts by using lower layer thickness, higher laser power, and lower scanning speed. The findings contribute to the new development of advanced net-shape manufacture of Al composites by combining SLM andin situreaction process.


2014 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. 129-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Parry ◽  
I. Ashcroft ◽  
D. Bracket ◽  
R.D. Wildman

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is an Additive Manufacturing method that enables greater design freedoms than traditional manufacturing methods in the production of high value, low volume metallic parts. Despite this now being a well-established processing method, there are a number of issues impeding industrial uptake, including the generation of residual stress and part distortion during manufacture. Prediction of residual stress is invaluable for tuning process parameters, and optimising the part geometry and support structures to limit residual stress based distortion during manufacture. This paper establishes a thermal modelling strategy to predict temperature distribution within a 3D SLM part that is a precursor towards a residual stress analysis.


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