Selective laser melting technology: from the single laser melted track stability to 3D parts of complex shape

To up-grade SLM process for manufacturing real components, high mechanical properties of final product must be achieved. The properties of a part produced by SLM technology depend strongly on the properties of each single track and each single layer. In this study, effects of the processing parameters such as laser power, scanning speed and powder layer thickness on the single tracks formation are analyzed. It is shown that, by choosing an optimal technological window and appropriate strategy of SLM, it is possible to manufacture highly complex parts with mechanical properties comparable to those of wrought material. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.