Abstract
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach in measuring the shielding gas flow within laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) machines under near-process conditions (regarding oxygen content and shielding gas flow).Design/methodology/approachThe measurements are made sequentially using a hot-wire anemometer. After a short introduction into the measurement technique, the system which places the measurement probe within the machine is described. Finally, the measured shielding gas flow of a commercial L-PBF machine is presented.FindingsAn approach to measure the shielding gas flow within SLM machines has been developed and successfully tested. The use of a thermal anemometer along with an automated probe-placement system enables the space-resolved measurement of the flow speed and its turbulence.Research limitations/implicationsThe used single-normal (SN) hot-wire anemometer does not provide the flow vectors’ orientation. Using a probe with two or three hot-films and an improved placement system will provide more information about the flow and less disturbance to it.Originality/valueA measurement system which allows the measurement of the shielding gas flow within commercial L-PBF machines is presented. This enables the correlation of the shielding gas flow with the resulting parts’ quality.
Highlights
The additive manufacturing process laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a powder bed-based technology which allows users to produce near-net-shape parts without the need for part-specific tools
The turbulent component increases with flow speed, showing an inhomogeneous distribution over each plane
If the turbulent component is divided by the specific mean flow speed, the distribution over the planes becomes homogeneous
Summary
The additive manufacturing process laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a powder bed-based technology which allows users to produce near-net-shape parts without the need for part-specific tools. This technology enables freedom of design which makes it attractive, e.g. for using high-performance technologies as in turbines or aircraft. In contrast to conventional technologies like milling or turning, the mechanical properties are to a great extent defined during the process. To prevent the parts from oxidizing, the L-PBF process operates under an inert argon or nitrogen gas atmosphere. A directed shielding gas flow over the building
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