EFFECT OF POWDER DENSITY AND ENERGY DENSITY ON THE PROCESS PARAMETERS OF LASER MELTED PARTS

One of the main goals of researchers in the laser melting processes of metal powders is optimization of required parameters in order to reach the properties of manufactured parts to the casting, or wrought material properties. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) in comparison with conventional manufacturing methods allows the production of three - dimensional sophisticated components, without using dies and tools in the shortest time. In the present study, the effect of parameters such as power density and energy density have been investigated on the strength, surface quality, dimensional accuracy of the laser melted parts. The fiber tube laser with a maximum power of 150 W has been conducted as a power source for melting the powder. The results showed that in constant laser power density, 18% increases in powder density (absolute value) leads to 21% decreases in the thickness of the samples. Moreover, increasing powder density up to 47% (absolute value) increases the strength of samples as well as higher energy densities, increase thickness of manufactured samples.

Keywords:

Selective laser melting , Powder Density , Energy Density , Metal Additive Manufacturing.