Effect of reciprocating scanning on selective laser melting with different layer thickness

Abstract

If the selective laser melting (SLM) powder layer is too thick, balling phenomenon will be aroused in the SLM processes. Reciprocating scanning can be an effective method to alleviate this problem during the SLM processes. In this paper. SLM experiments with different scanning speeds and reciprocating scanning widths were carried out. It was observed that reciprocating scanning with speeds of 1000 mm/s and 250 mm/s revealed the good forming quality. While, the forming quality present obvious improvement with decline of reciprocating scanning width. The SLM experiments shown that reciprocating scanning can make the SLM processes work well when the powder layers have a thickness of 0.5 mm. Because thermal accumulation during laser scanning increased the size of molten pool, the reciprocating scanning improved the forming quality of SLM with a thick powder layer. The shape of molten pool changes with the decrease of reciprocating scanning width and makes the different surface topography of cladding layers.If the selective laser melting (SLM) powder layer is too thick, balling phenomenon will be aroused in the SLM processes. Reciprocating scanning can be an effective method to alleviate this problem during the SLM processes. In this paper. SLM experiments with different scanning speeds and reciprocating scanning widths were carried out. It was observed that reciprocating scanning with speeds of 1000 mm/s and 250 mm/s revealed the good forming quality. While, the forming quality present obvious improvement with decline of reciprocating scanning width. The SLM experiments shown that reciprocating scanning can make the SLM processes work well when the powder layers have a thickness of 0.5 mm. Because thermal accumulation during laser scanning increased the size of molten pool, the reciprocating scanning improved the forming quality of SLM with a thick powder layer. The shape of molten pool changes with the decrease of reciprocating scanning width and makes the different surface topography of cladding layers.