Title: Simulation research on influence of scanning pattern on temperature evolution in SLS/SLM of Ti6Al4V powder

Authors: Liang Ma, Hongzan Bin

Addresses: School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, PR China. ' School of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, PR China

Abstract: A 3D finite element model is used to analyse the non-linear behaviours of thermal conductivity and of specific heat due to temperature changes, phase transformations and powder-to-solid transitions. Compared to the traditional |S| scanning pattern, the influences of three kinds of fractal scanning patterns on the evolution of sintering temperature are investigated by using the FE model. It is shown that different scanning patterns have strong influences on the temperature distribution and the fractal scanning patterns can make the temperature distribution much more symmetrical than that of the |S| scanning pattern. In addition, powder-to-solid transition also has an obvious influence on the temperature distribution.

Keywords: 3D FEM; finite element method; rapid prototyping; temperature distribution; simulation; fractal scanning; selective laser sintering; SLS; selective laser melting; SLM; scanning patterns; thermal conductivity; specific heat; temperature changes; phase transformations; powder-to-solid transitions.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2008.019120

International Journal of Product Development, 2008 Vol.6 No.1, pp.36 - 49

Published online: 29 Jun 2008 *

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