Critical instability at moving keyhole tip generates porosity in laser melting

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 370 (6520) ◽  
pp. 1080-1086
Author(s):  
Cang Zhao ◽  
Niranjan D. Parab ◽  
Xuxiao Li ◽  
Kamel Fezzaa ◽  
Wenda Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
Critical Instability ◽  
Porosity Defects ◽  
Scan Speed ◽  
Metal 3D Printing

Laser powder bed fusion is a dominant metal 3D printing technology. However, porosity defects remain a challenge for fatigue-sensitive applications. Some porosity is associated with deep and narrow vapor depressions called keyholes, which occur under high-power, low–scan speed laser melting conditions. High-speed x-ray imaging enables operando observation of the detailed formation process of pores in Ti-6Al-4V caused by a critical instability at the keyhole tip. We found that the boundary of the keyhole porosity regime in power-velocity space is sharp and smooth, varying only slightly between the bare plate and powder bed. The critical keyhole instability generates acoustic waves in the melt pool that provide additional yet vital driving force for the pores near the keyhole tip to move away from the keyhole and become trapped as defects.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Frequency domain measurements of melt pool recoil force using modal analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tristan Cullom ◽  
Cody Lough ◽  
Nicholas Altese ◽  
Douglas Bristow ◽  
Robert Landers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Spot Size ◽  
Recoil Pressure ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Recoil Force ◽  
Scan Speed ◽  
Synchrotron Imaging

AbstractRecoil pressure is a critical factor affecting the melt pool dynamics during Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) processes. Recoil pressure depresses the melt pool. When the recoil pressure is low, thermal conduction and capillary forces may be inadequate to provide proper fusion between layers. However, excessive recoil pressure can produce a keyhole inside the melt pool, which is associated with gas porosity. Direct recoil pressure measurements are challenging because it is localized over an area proportionate to the laser spot size producing a force in the mN range. This paper reports a vibration-based approach to quantify the recoil force exerted on a part in a commercial LPBF machine. The measured recoil force is consistent with estimates from high speed synchrotron imaging of entrained particles, and the results show that the recoil force scales with applied laser power and is inversely related to the laser scan speed. These results facilitate further studies of melt pool dynamics and have the potential to aid process development for new materials.

scholarly journals Frequency Domain Measurements of Melt Pool Recoil Force Using Modal Analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tristan Cullom ◽  
Cody Lough ◽  
Nicholas Altese ◽  
Douglas Bristow ◽  
Robert Landers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Process Development ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Spot Size ◽  
Recoil Pressure ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Recoil Force ◽  
Scan Speed ◽  
Synchrotron Imaging

Abstract Recoil pressure is a critical factor affecting the melt pool dynamics during Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) processes. Recoil pressure depresses the melt pool, providing layer-to-layer fusion without introducing porosity. If the recoil pressure is too low, the process operates in a conduction mode where layers will not properly fuse, while excessive recoil pressure leads to a keyhole mode, which results in gas porosity. Direct recoil pressure measurements are challenging because it is localized over an area proportionate to the laser spot size producing a force in the mN range. This paper reports a vibration-based approach to quantify the recoil force exerted on a part in a commercial LPBF machine. The measured recoil force is consistent with estimates from high speed synchrotron imaging of entrained particles, and the results show that the recoil force scales with applied laser power and is inversely related to the laser scan speed. These results facilitate further studies of melt pool dynamics and have the potential to aid process development for new materials.

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 Ultrafast X-ray imaging of laser–metal additive manufacturing processes

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 1467-1477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niranjan D. Parab ◽  
Cang Zhao ◽  
Ross Cunningham ◽  
Luis I. Escano ◽  
Kamel Fezzaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Manufacturing Processes ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
X Ray Imaging ◽  
Resolution Imaging

The high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging technique was synchronized with a custom-built laser-melting setup to capture the dynamics of laser powder-bed fusion processes in situ. Various significant phenomena, including vapor-depression and melt-pool dynamics and powder-spatter ejection, were captured with high spatial and temporal resolution. Imaging frame rates of up to 10 MHz were used to capture the rapid changes in these highly dynamic phenomena. At the same time, relatively slow frame rates were employed to capture large-scale changes during the process. This experimental platform will be vital in the further understanding of laser additive manufacturing processes and will be particularly helpful in guiding efforts to reduce or eliminate microstructural defects in additively manufactured parts.

scholarly journals Process characterization and analysis of ceramic powder bed fusion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Florio ◽  
Dario Puccio ◽  
Giorgio Viganò ◽  
Stefan Pfeiffer ◽  
Fabrizio Verga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Ceramic Powder ◽  
Integrating Sphere ◽  
Alumina Powder ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Single Track ◽  
Ceramic Powders ◽  
Pure Alumina ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool

AbstractPowder bed fusion (PBF) of ceramics is often limited because of the low absorptance of ceramic powders and lack of process understanding. These challenges have been addressed through a co-development of customized ceramic powders and laser process capabilities. The starting powder is made of a mix of pure alumina powder and alumina granules, to which a metal oxide dopant is added to increase absorptance. The performance of different granules and process parameters depends on a large number of influencing factors. In this study, two methods for characterizing and analyzing the PBF process are presented and used to assess which dopant is the most suitable for the process. The first method allows one to analyze the absorptance of the laser during the melting of a single track using an integrating sphere. The second one relies on in-situ video imaging using a high-speed camera and an external laser illumination. The absorption behavior of the laser power during the melting of both single tracks and full layers is proven to be a non-linear and extremely dynamic process. While for a single track, the manganese oxide doped powder delivers higher and more stable absorptance. When a full layer is analyzed, iron oxide-doped powder is leading to higher absorptance and a larger melt pool. Both dopants allow the generation of a stable melt-pool, which would be impossible with granules made of pure alumina. In addition, the present study sheds light on several phenomena related to powder and melt-pool dynamics, such as the change of melt-pool shape and dimension over time and powder denudation effects.

scholarly journals Additive Manufacturing of Bulk Nanocrystalline FeNdB Based Permanent Magnets

Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 538
Author(s):  
Dagmar Goll ◽  
Felix Trauter ◽  
Timo Bernthaler ◽  
Jochen Schanz ◽  
Harald Riegel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Melt Spinning ◽  
Permanent Magnets ◽  
Maximum Energy ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Bulk Nanocrystalline ◽  
Ribbon Structures ◽  
Nanocrystalline Ribbon

Lab scale additive manufacturing of Fe-Nd-B based powders was performed to realize bulk nanocrystalline Fe-Nd-B based permanent magnets. For fabrication a special inert gas process chamber for laser powder bed fusion was used. Inspired by the nanocrystalline ribbon structures, well-known from melt-spinning, the concept was successfully transferred to the additive manufactured parts. For example, for Nd16.5-Pr1.5-Zr2.6-Ti2.5-Co2.2-Fe65.9-B8.8 (excess rare earth (RE) = Nd, Pr; the amount of additives was chosen following Magnequench (MQ) powder composition) a maximum coercivity of µ0Hc = 1.16 T, remanence Jr = 0.58 T and maximum energy density of (BH)max = 62.3 kJ/m3 have been achieved. The most important prerequisite to develop nanocrystalline printed parts with good magnetic properties is to enable rapid solidification during selective laser melting. This is made possible by a shallow melt pool during laser melting. Melt pool depths as low as 20 to 40 µm have been achieved. The printed bulk nanocrystalline Fe-Nd-B based permanent magnets have the potential to realize magnets known so far as polymer bonded magnets without polymer.

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