Distortion Analysis of SLM Product of SS316L using Inherent Strain Method

Abstract

As one of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, selective laser melting (SLM) which uses higher energy input enabling fully molten powder bed materials is nowadays increasingly applied to build full dense components without post processing. In the present work, specimens made of stainless steel powder SS 316L were to be processed using SLM Solutions 280 HL, characterized and compared to the simulation from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Software. The powders have been melted to produce cantilever specimens with different build orientation by using fixed major process parameters such as laser power, hatching distance and layer thickness as well as scan speed. The experiment starts with the FEA simulation which focused on Inherent Strain Method (ISM) and followed by experimental process. While the distortion of the specimens after the process to be the main concern and to be discussed based on the build orientation of the specimens. The measurement distortion of the specimens was conducted by using KEYENCE 3D scanner. It is found out that the build orientation play a big role on distortion of the specimens made from SLM. Meanwhile, result of distortion from the experiment and FEA simulation are close to each other. It is expected that this basic FEA study will provide basic information and estimation towards the distortion and computational time by simulating product prior to commencement of real product manufacturing. Thus, by using ISM will reduce the computational time and reduce the waste material by simulating the process before the experiment have been held.