Influence of selective laser melting process parameters on the characteristics of SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) single tracks

Abstract

Process parameters of selective laser melting, such as track height, track width and depth of penetration, affect the characteristics of laser fused single tracks. The properties of additively manufactured 3D parts depend strongly on the quality of laser melted single tracks and resultant single layers. Layers formed with a good depth of laser penetration provide strong bonding between consecutive layers and the substrate. Poor depth of laser penetration leads to delamination of layers. In this study the effect of the critical process parameters of laser power, laser scanning speed, and laser linear energy density on the characteristics of SiC/Ti6Al4V(ELI) single tracks at different SiC volume fractions (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, 25 % and 30%) was investigated. Phenomena, such as the keyhole effect, pre-balling, and balling of single tracks, were also investigated. The obtained results showed that increase of power at a constant speed increase both the track width and depth of penetration but the track height above the substrate is decreased.