Associate Professor and Executive Director ADAPT at Colorado School of Mines
Ideally, an additively manufactured component could be fabricated on any laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) platform and achieve predictable performance. However, there are inherent differences in the machine technology, such as, laser optics train, recoating mechanism, and gas flow, along with differences in the default processing parameters used in each system. This work presents several efforts investigating cross-platform performance in PBF-LB for different metallic materials. Powder characteristics, composition, porosity, microstructure, and tensile behavior are presented for the as built, and heat-treated conditions. A range of material structures and mechanical performance were observed for all conditions, with scientific correlations and fundamental theory applied to connect the processing-structure-properties relationship. The applicability of these models for cross-platform and cross-material PBF-LB properties predictability will be reviewed. Data pedigree documentation and management will also be discussed. Results from these works will support the viability of cross-platform fabrication to enable supply chain flexibility.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the broad landscape of different laser powder bed fusion platforms
Connect processing hardware and parameters to material features
Identify feature of metallic material impacting mechanical properties
