Transient Melt Pool Formation in Laser-Powder Bed Fusion Process

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santosh Rauniyar ◽  
Kevin Chou
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Transient State ◽  
Fusion Process ◽  
Quasi Steady State ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Scan Speed ◽  
Powder Particles

Abstract Parts are built in a layer-by-layer fashion in the laser powder bed fusion process. Each layer of scan in the parts is defined by a scan strategy that consists of many small patches and scans. The scan length of those multiple scans is not always long enough to have reached a quasi-steady state of the melt pool. The length at which it achieves a steady state is different for different process parameters. The available literature related to the melt pool considers the melt pool has already achieved a steady state, which holds true to a large extent. However, there is always a transient state of melt pool with different characteristics compared to the quasi-steady state. The transient state of the melt pool is particularly significant for small features and thin walls. This paper explores the cross-section and width of the melt track in the transient state. Single-tracks are deposited on semi-cylindrical samples with Ti-6Al-4V powder particles for three levels of power and speed combinations. The single tracks are built at a certain height from the base plate instead of on the build plate to include the effect of the powder particles. The experiment includes single tracks of four scan lengths i.e. 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mm. Once the parts are built and removed from the build plate, White light interferometer is used to capture the melt track information and data processing is done in Matlab™. The results show that the transient length is directly proportional to the laser power and inversely proportional to the scan speed. The highest transient length value is obtained for the highest power of 195 W and lowest scan speed of 50 mm/s.

Measurement of the Melt Pool Length During Single Scan Tracks in a Commercial Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Heigel ◽  
B. M. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Laser Power ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Single Track ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Scan Speed

This work presents high speed thermographic measurements of the melt pool length during single track laser scans on nickel alloy 625 substrates. Scans are made using a commercial laser powder bed fusion machine while measurements of the radiation from the surface are made using a high speed (1800 frames per second) infrared camera. The melt pool length measurement is based on the detection of the liquidus-solidus transition that is evident in the temperature profile. Seven different combinations of programmed laser power (49 W to 195 W) and scan speed (200 mm/s to 800 mm/s) are investigated and numerous replications using a variety of scan lengths (4 mm to 12 mm) are performed. Results show that the melt pool length reaches steady state within 2 mm of the start of each scan. Melt pool length increases with laser power, but its relationship with scan speed is less obvious because there is no significant difference between cases performed at the highest laser power of 195 W. Although keyholing appears to affect the anticipated trends in melt pool length, further research is required.

scholarly journals Processability and Optimization of Laser Parameters for Densification of Hypereutectic Al–Fe Binary Alloy Manufactured by Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Crystals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 320
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Wang ◽  
Naoki Takata ◽  
Asuka Suzuki ◽  
Makoto Kobashi ◽  
Masaki Kato
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Binary Alloy ◽  
Process Window ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Deposited Energy ◽  
Scan Speed

Centimeter-sized samples of hypereutectic Al–15 mass% Fe alloy were manufactured by a laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) process while systematically varying laser power (P) and scan speed (v). The effects on relative density and melt pool depth of L-PBF-manufactured samples were investigated. In comparison with other Al alloys, a small laser process window of P = 77–128 W and v = 0.4–0.8 ms−1 was found for manufacturing macroscopically crack-free samples. A higher v and P led to the creation of macroscopic cracks propagating parallel to the powder-bed plane. These cracks preferentially propagated along the melt pool boundaries decorated with brittle θ-Al13Fe4 phase, resulting in low L-PBF processability of Al–15%Fe alloy. The deposited energy density model (using P·v−1/2) would be useful for identifying the optimum L-PBF process conditions towards densification of Al–15%Fe alloy samples, in comparison with the volumetric energy density (using P·v−1), however, the validity of the model was reduced for this alloy in comparison with other alloys with high thermal conductivities. This is likely due to inhomogeneous microstructures having numerous coarsened θ–Al13Fe4 phases localized at melt pool boundaries. These results provide insights into achieving sufficient L-PBF processability for manufacturing dense Al–Fe binary alloy samples.

Measurement of the Melt Pool Length During Single Scan Tracks in a Commercial Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Heigel ◽  
B. M. Lane
Keyword(s):  
Laser Power ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Single Track ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Scan Speed

This work presents high-speed thermographic measurements of the melt pool length during single track laser scans on nickel alloy 625 substrates. Scans are made using a commercial laser powder bed fusion (PBF) machine while measurements of the radiation from the surface are made using a high speed (1800 frames per second) infrared camera. The melt pool length measurement is based on the detection of the liquidus–solidus transition that is evident in the temperature profile. Seven different combinations of programmed laser power (49–195 W) and scan speed (200–800 mm/s) are investigated, and numerous replications using a variety of scan lengths (4–12 mm) are performed. Results show that the melt pool length reaches steady-state within 2 mm of the start of each scan. Melt pool length increases with laser power, but its relationship with scan speed is less obvious because there is no significant difference between cases performed at the highest laser power of 195 W. Although keyholing appears to affect the anticipated trends in melt pool length, further research is required.

Vision-based in-situ monitoring system for melt-pool detection in laser powder bed fusion process

2021 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 1735-1745
Author(s):  
Trong-Nhan Le ◽  
Min-Hsun Lee ◽  
Ze-Hong Lin ◽  
Hong-Chuong Tran ◽  
Yu-Lung Lo
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring System ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Fusion Process ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool

scholarly journals Melt Pool Features Analysis Using a High Speed Coaxial Monitoring System for Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Ti-6Al-4V Grade 23

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aditi Thanki ◽  
Louca Goossens ◽  
Agusmian Partogi Ompusunggu ◽  
Mohamad Bayat ◽  
Abdellatif Bey-Temsamani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Laser Power ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Porosity Formation ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Binary Images ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Scan Speed

Abstract In laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), defects such as pores or cracks can seriously affect the final part quality and lifetime. Keyhole porosity, being one type of porosity defects in LPBF, results from excessive energy density which may be due to changes in process parameters (laser power and scan speed) and/or result from the part’s geometry and/or hatching strategies. To study the possible occurrence of keyhole pores, experimental work as well as simulations were carried out for optimum and high volumetric energy density conditions in Ti-6Al-4V grade 23. By decreasing the scanning speed from 1000 mm/s to 500 mm/s for a fixed laser power of 170 W, keyhole porosities are formed and later observed by X-ray computed tomography. Melt pool images are recorded in real-time during the LPBF process by using a high speed coaxial Near-Infrared (NIR) camera monitoring system. The recorded images are then pre-processed using a set of image processing steps to generate binary images. From the binary images, geometrical features of the melt pool and features that characterize the spatter particles formation and ejection from the melt pool are calculated. The experimental data clearly show spatter patterns in case of keyhole porosity formation at low scan speed. A correlation between the number of pores and the amount of spatter is observed. Besides the experimental work, a previously developed, high fidelity finite volume numerical model was used to simulate the melt pool dynamics with similar process parameters as in the experiment. Simulation results illustrate and confirm the keyhole porosity formation by decreasing laser scan speed.

scholarly journals Vacuum laser powder bed fusion—track consolidation, powder denudation, and future potential

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3339-3346
Author(s):  
L. Kaserer ◽  
S. Bergmueller ◽  
J. Braun ◽  
G. Leichtfried
Keyword(s):  
Laser Plasma ◽  
Powder Layer ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Laser Plasma Interaction ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Powder Particles ◽  
Future Potential ◽  
Titanium Grade

Abstract Defects in parts processed by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) are often triggered by laser/plasma plume interference and spattering. The implementation of a LPBF process in vacuum has been suggested to possibly reduce these effects. Within this study, the effects of process pressure variations between 1 mbar and atmospheric pressure on the generation of single tracks and on the surrounding layer of loose powder particles were studied for CP titanium grade 2 and the Maraging steel 1.2709. Below 10 mbar no single tracks could be generated and the powder layer adjacent to the track was effectively denuded. It was found that the essential mechanism for incorporating powder into the melt pool begins to work at process pressures above 10 mbar and its effectiveness increases with increasing pressure. The amount of powder incorporated into the melt pool depends on the material and the scanning conditions. With identical scanning conditions, this amount of powder is significantly larger for titanium than for steel. For process pressures above 200 mbar, no significant change in the amount of spattering could be found. In this pressure range improved process stability could be possible due to a reduced laser/plasma interaction and an increased laser penetration depth.

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