Simulation Aided Process Development with Multi-Spot Strategies in Laser Powder-Bed Fusion

Abstract

A challenge in laser powder-bed fusion is to achieve high process speed while maintaining quality level of the melting tracks. One approach to increase productivity is to distribute available laser power over several laser spots, resulting in higher melting rate. Using multiple laser spots opens up new parameter spaces in comparison to the conventional single-spot exposure. In addition to classical process parameters, e.g. total laser power and scanning speed, the distribution of power to the specific spots and the respective spatial arrangement have an impact on resulting process quality and speed. Within the scope of this research work, a physically based model is presented to define multi-spot process strategies for the generation of desired melt pool dimensions. Diffractive optical elements are used in order to adjust power or spatial arrangement of multiple laser spots. Resulting melt pool has more width and less depth compared to single-spot generated melt pools. Simulations and experiments show an optimum in applied spot distance between laser spots to obtain higher melting rates.