Selective Laser Melting (Powder Bed Fusion process) is an innovative technology for manufacturing geometrically complex 3D physical objects by application of the powder, layer after layer, and local melting of selected areas of each layer of the powders of various metal alloys with the beam of a high-power ytterbium fiber laser of continuous radiation. As the source of the formed shape, a CAD model of the required product is used.
Preparing for the 3D printing process begins with a 3D modeling of the desired construction object in one of the existing CAD systems. Then, with the help of the CAM system, a .stl file is created, – an industry standard that fully allows you to get a file with a certain set of parameters necessary for effective 3D printing. In digital processing, the build object model is divided into layers, each 20 to 100 microns thick, and the trajectories of laser beam scanning are formed when each layer is exposed.
3D model
formation of laser tracks
layer-by-layer printing
ready product
as the main raw material, a variety of metals are used, pulverized into powders with pellets of correct spherical shape. The technology can be used with almost all standardized alloys, as well as to compose and develop special materials to solve individual issues
before application of each following layer, the movable platform with the metal powder moves up by the height equal or exceeding the required thickness of the layer
the platform, on which the product is printed (grown) layer by layer, is made from a material that is the same or similar in its chemical composition as the metal powder used. After the printing process is finished, the ready product is mechanically separated from the platform, and the platform is polished for reusing
when the laser selective melting of the current layer of metal powder is done, the platform is lowered in the build shaft by exactly the specified height of the printed layer. Over the product and the entire area of the bin, a portion of metal powder is applied for the formation of the next printed layer
of high power and continuous radiation with a high-precision optical system that allows you to focus optical energy to a point with a diameter of 45 to 200 microns, with an even distribution of energy throughout the area of the spot formed in the melt zone
for high-speed optical scanning of the build platform (by deflection of the laser beam), a system based on special mirrors is used that can deflect the beam along the X and Y axes. Each mirror is driven by a micro-servomotor with a highly accurate feedback and a system of programmable correction of positioning
Additive technologies that just a few decades ago seemed to be a fantasy, today are successfully implemented in all highly technological and strictly regulated industries
A compact solution for ambitious and high-precision industrial and research issues
Read moreAdditive technologies that just a few decades ago seemed to be a fantasy, today are successfully implemented in all highly technological and strictly regulated industries
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