Effect of Scan Strategies and Use of Support Structures on Surface Quality and Hardness of L-PBF AlSi10Mg Parts

Abstract

Additive manufacturing allows for a great degree of design freedom and is rapidly becoming a mainstream manufacturing process. However, as in all manufacturing processes, it has its limitations and specificities. Equipping engineers with this knowledge allows for a higher degree of optimization, extracting the most out of this technology. Therefore, a specific part design was devised and created via L-PBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion) using AlSi10Mg powder. Certain parameters were varied to identify the influence on material density, hardness, roughness, residual stress and microstructures. It was found that on heat treated parts laser pattern strategy is one of the most influential aspects, showing that chessboard and stripes 67° improved outcome; average Ra roughness varied between 8–12 µm, residual stress was higher on vertical surfaces than horizontal surfaces, with the combination of support structures and stripes 67° strategies generating the lowest residual stress (205 MPa on a lateral/vertical face), hardness was non-orientation dependent and larger on samples with chessboard fabrication strategies, while microstructures were composed of α–Al dendrites surrounded by Si particles. The distribution and grain size of the microstructure is dependent on location regarding melt pool and HAZ area. Furthermore, Al–Mg oxides were encountered on the surface, along with pores generating from lack of fusion.

Additive Manufacturing of AlSi10Mg and Ti6Al4V Lightweight Alloys via Laser Powder Bed Fusion: A Review of Heat Treatments Effects

“… Lack of Fusion (LOF) pores classifying as pores: ( a ) with un-melted particles, ( b ) poor bonding defects (Adapted from references [ 95 , 96 ]). Schematic representation of the LOF formation during the L-PBF process: ( c ) lack of adequate laser scan tracks overlap; ( d ) presence of defects such as spatter.…”

A review of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing of aluminium alloys: Microstructure and properties

“…Accordingly, various researchers have studied such effects by implementing different scanning strategies to alter the grain structure and improve L-PBF build quality [88,91,92].…”

Comparative Study on Morphological, Physical and Mechanical Characteristics of L-PBF Based AlSi10Mg Parts with Conventional Stir Casted Al-10 %SiC Composites

“…The Electro optical system triggers the high intensity laser beam with the range of 600-700 nm wave length by providing 1mw laser radiation which will solidify the powder particles as per the geometrical dimensions fed in to the system already [25].The laser calibration will be done for every continuous cycles. The angular rotation of the laser dispensing system will have 45˚ to 67˚ fusion.…”