Selective Laser Melting: Direct Manufacturing of 3d-objects by Selective Laser Melting of Metal Powders

This study concerns the interaction of the powerful laser radiation (0.3-1.3 MW/sq cm) with powder metallic materials. Thermal processes in interaction zones, absorption, reflection, radiation transfer, heat transfer by conduction and convection, evaporation and emission of material are discussed in detail. Numerical modeling of laser interaction with substrate and laser-powder interaction is presented. For commercial metal powders (stainless steel, tool steel, nickel-chromium alloy, cobalt- base and copper alloys, titanium and nickel-titanium alloys) are defined the relations between the basic parameters of selective laser melting and their influence on structure and functional properties of manufactured objects. Based on the results of the present research, net shape functional parts with engineered internal structures, desired porosity, specially structured surface and multi-material objects are fabricated.