A Study on Effect of Different Process Parameters on the Quality of Overhang Surface Produced by Selective Laser Melting

Selective Laser Melting process enables production of geometrically complex parts directly from CAD model by melting metal powders layer by layer. For successful building of parts, some auxiliary structures namely support structures are also built to ensure proper heat conduction from actual parts to be built to the base plate. Support structures are needed if there are overhang surfaces in the design of the part. If the design of the part is very complex and features many overhang surfaces, then too many supports get generated. After building the part, these support structures need to be removed properly to get desired geometrical features and it may deteriorate the surface quality from where supports are removed. Sometimes removal of support structures becomes very difficult specially for parts having internal features. In this study, first effect of inclined angle, aspect ratio and different scanning strategies on the quality of overhang surfaces produced without any support structure under constant laser power and scan speed has been investigated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of overhang surfaces have been analyzed to investigate the presence of warping and uneven fused edges if any. It was found that with increase in inclined angles and aspect ratio, warping and presence of uneven fused edges increases. Rotational scanning strategy found to be better than linear alternate scanning strategy for reduced uneven fused edges formation and warping. Results show an overhang without any support structure can be built successfully with a single laser process parameters upto 25.343 degree which is less than theoretical critical angle of 26.565 degree. Further, it has been shown, using a novel strategy of building overhang with multiple laser process parameters, it is possible to build overhang even upto 24.132 degree.