scholarly journals Keyhole Formation by Laser Drilling in Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Ti6Al4V Biomedical Alloy: Mesoscopic Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation versus Mathematical Modelling Using Empirical Validation

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3284
Author(s):  
Asif Ur Rehman ◽  
Muhammad Arif Mahmood ◽  
Fatih Pitir ◽  
Metin Uymaz Salamci ◽  
Andrei C. Popescu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Dynamics Simulation ◽  
Powder Layer ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool

In the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process, the operating conditions are essential in determining laser-induced keyhole regimes based on the thermal distribution. These regimes, classified into shallow and deep keyholes, control the probability and defects formation intensity in the LPBF process. To study and control the keyhole in the LPBF process, mathematical and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are presented. For CFD, the volume of fluid method with the discrete element modeling technique was used, while a mathematical model was developed by including the laser beam absorption by the powder bed voids and surface. The dynamic melt pool behavior is explored in detail. Quantitative comparisons are made among experimental, CFD simulation and analytical computing results leading to a good correspondence. In LPBF, the temperature around the laser irradiation zone rises rapidly compared to the surroundings in the powder layer due to the high thermal resistance and the air between the powder particles, resulting in a slow travel of laser transverse heat waves. In LPBF, the keyhole can be classified into shallow and deep keyhole mode, controlled by the energy density. Increasing the energy density, the shallow keyhole mode transforms into the deep keyhole mode. The energy density in a deep keyhole is higher due to the multiple reflections and concentrations of secondary reflected beams within the keyhole, causing the material to vaporize quickly. Due to an elevated temperature distribution in deep keyhole mode, the probability of pores forming is much higher than in a shallow keyhole as the liquid material is close to the vaporization temperature. When the temperature increases rapidly, the material density drops quickly, thus, raising the fluid volume due to the specific heat and fusion latent heat. In return, this lowers the surface tension and affects the melt pool uniformity.

Camera signal dependencies within coaxial melt pool monitoring in laser powder bed fusion

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tobias Kolb ◽  
Reza Elahi ◽  
Jan Seeger ◽  
Mathews Soris ◽  
Christian Scheitler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Powder Layer ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Sensory Signals ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Research Activities

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the signal dependency of the camera-based coaxial monitoring system QMMeltpool 3D (Concept Laser GmbH, Lichtenfels, Germany) for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) under the variation of process parameters, position, direction and layer thickness to determine the capability of the system. Because such and similar monitoring systems are designed and presented for quality assurance in series production, it is important to present the dominant signal influences and limitations. Design/methodology/approach Hardware of the commercially available coaxial monitoring QMMeltpool 3D is used to investigate the thermal emission of the interaction zone during LPBF. The raw images of the camera are analysed by means of image processing to bypass the software of QMMeltpool 3D and to gain a high level of signal understanding. Laser power, scan speed, laser spot diameter and powder layer thickness were varied for single-melt tracks to determine the influence of a parameter variation on the measured sensory signals. The effects of the scan direction and position were also analysed in detail. The influence of surface roughness on the detected sensory signals was simulated by a machined substrate plate. Findings Parameter variations are confirmed to be detectable. Because of strong directional and positional dependencies of the melt-pool monitoring signal a calibration algorithm is necessary. A decreasing signal is detected for increasing layer thickness. Surface roughness is identified as a dominating factor with major influence on the melt-pool monitoring signal exceeding other process flaws. Research limitations/implications This work was performed with the hardware of a commercially available QMMeltpool 3D system of an LPBF machine M2 of the company Concept Laser GmbH. The results are relevant for all melt-pool monitoring research activities connected to LPBF, as well as for end users and serial production. Originality/value Surface roughness has not yet been revealed as being one of the most important origins for signal deviations in coaxial melt-pool monitoring. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the direct comparison of influences because of parameters and environment has not been published to this extent. The detection, evaluation and remelting of surface roughness constitute a plausible workflow for closed-loop control in LPBF.

A Numerical Study on the Keyhole Formation During Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Shrestha ◽  
Y. Kevin Chou
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Keyhole Behavior

The dynamic phenomenon of a melt pool during the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is complex and sensitive to process parameters. As the energy density input exceeds a certain threshold, a huge vapor depression may form, known as the keyhole. This study focuses on understanding the keyhole behavior and related pore formation during the LPBF process through numerical analysis. For this purpose, a thermo-fluid model with discrete powder particles is developed. The powder distribution, obtained from a discrete element method (DEM), is incorporated into the computational domain to develop a 3D process physics model using flow-3d. The melt pool formation during the conduction mode and the keyhole mode of melting has been discerned and explained. The high energy density leads to the formation of a vapor column and consequently pores under the laser scan track. Further, the keyhole shape resulted from different laser powers and scan speeds is investigated. The numerical results indicated that the keyhole size increases with the increase in the laser power even with the same energy density. The keyhole becomes stable at a higher power, which may reduce the occurrence of pores during laser scanning.

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.

A Numerical Study on the Keyhole Formation During Laser Powder Bed Fusion Process

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subin Shrestha ◽  
Y. Kevin Chou
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Density ◽  
Computational Domain ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Melt Pool ◽  
Keyhole Behavior

Abstract The dynamic phenomenon of a melt pool during the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process is complex and sensitive to process parameters. As the energy density input exceeds a certain threshold, a huge vapor depression may form, known as the keyhole. This study focuses on understanding the keyhole behavior and related pore formation during the LPBF process through numerical analysis. For this purpose, a thermo-fluid model with discrete powder particles is developed. The powder distribution, obtained from a discrete element method (DEM), is incorporated into the computational domain to develop a 3D process physics model using FLOW-3D. The melt pool formation during the conduction mode and the keyhole mode of melting has been discerned and explained. The high energy density leads to the formation of a vapor column and consequently pores under the laser scan track. Further, the keyhole shape resulted from different laser powers and scan speeds is investigated. The numerical results indicated that the keyhole size increases with the increase in the laser power even with the same energy density. The keyhole becomes stable at a higher power, which may reduce the occurrence of pores during laser scanning.

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.

scholarly journals Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Polymers: Quantitative Research Direction Indices

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ihsan Murat Kusoglu ◽  
Carlos Doñate-Buendía ◽  
Stephan Barcikowski ◽  
Bilal Gökce
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Data Matrix ◽  
Powder Layer ◽  
Automotive Electronics ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Healthcare Applications ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Polymer Powder ◽  
Material Process

Research on Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) of polymer powder feedstocks has raised over the last decade due to the increased utilization of the fabricated parts in aerospace, automotive, electronics, and healthcare applications. A total of 600 Science Citation Indexed articles were published on the topic of L-PBF of polymer powder feedstocks in the last decade, being cited more than 10,000 times leading to an h-index of 46. This study statistically evaluates the 100 most cited articles to extract reported material, process, and as-built part properties to analyze the research trends. PA12, PEEK, and TPU are the most employed polymer powder feedstocks, while size, flowability, and thermal behavior are the standardly reported material properties. Likewise, process properties such as laser power, scanning speed, hatch spacing, powder layer thickness, volumetric energy density, and areal energy density are extracted and evaluated. In addition, material and process properties of the as-built parts such as tensile test, flexural test, and volumetric porosity contents are analyzed. The incorporation of additives is found to be an effective route to enhance mechanical and functional properties. Carbon-based additives are typically employed in applications where mechanical properties are essential. Carbon fibers, Ca-phosphates, and SiO2 are the most reported additives in the evaluated SCI-expanded articles for L-PBF of polymer powder feedstocks. A comprehensive data matrix is extracted from the evaluated SCI-index publications, and a principal component analysis (PCA) is performed to explore correlations between reported material, process, and as-built parts.

scholarly journals On the Relevance of Volumetric Energy Density in the Investigation of Inconel 718 Laser Powder Bed Fusion

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabrizia Caiazzo ◽  
Vittorio Alfieri ◽  
Giuseppe Casalino
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Energy Density ◽  
Process Parameters ◽  
Vickers Hardness ◽  
Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Processing Conditions ◽  
Laser Powder Bed Fusion ◽  
Powder Bed ◽  
Fractional Density ◽  
Experimental Variation

Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) can fabricate products with tailored mechanical and surface properties. In fact, surface texture, roughness, pore size, the resulting fractional density, and microhardness highly depend on the processing conditions, which are very difficult to deal with. Therefore, this paper aims at investigating the relevance of the volumetric energy density (VED) that is a concise index of some governing factors with a potential operational use. This paper proves the fact that the observed experimental variation in the surface roughness, number and size of pores, the fractional density, and Vickers hardness can be explained in terms of VED that can help the investigator in dealing with several process parameters at once.

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