Estimation of track dimensions obtained in Laser Metal Deposition-powder thanks to a semi-analytical model coupled to an Eulerian thermal simulation

Abstract

Originally issued from cladding, the LMD-p process widens the field of possibilities in terms of manufacturing. Depending on the targeted application, the needs regarding the track geometry are different and the ability to adapt it is a key challenge. In LMD-p, the laser beam attenuation as well as the powder particles preheating are both determined by laser-powder interactions before the powder reaches the substrate. The track dimensions are directly correlated to the melt pool size: a larger pool will tend to capture more powder resulting in a higher deposition rate. The model presented here intends to determine, for a given working distance, the partition of energy, and to estimate the area of the generated melt pool and finally the dimensions of the deposited track. It is first based on a semi-analytical approach that models the powder distribution and calculates the transmitted power to both substrate and powder particles. The attenuated power density is then an input for a light Eulerian thermal simulation from which the contour of the molten zone is extracted. Several iterations are carried out to account for the energy loss caused by the heating and melting of the powder entering the pool. Lastly, the track dimensions are estimated from the stabilized melt pool configuration. Track geometries obtained with a BeAM® machine are compared to the model predictions. Such an approach opens very interesting perspectives in studying the influence of the working distance and its optimization for a given material and/or a given application.