Selective laser melting of CoCrMo: an evaluation of part density distribution across the build plate

Abstract

Selective laser melting (SLM) employs the use of powder as the feedstock to manufacture the desired geometries in a layer-by-layer fashion. The part density of manufactured components is one factor used to evaluate part quality since the density has been shown to influence the mechanical properties of SLM components. This study investigated the effect of build location on the part density of selective laser melted CoCrMo. The results showed that the part density varied across the build platform due to the powder packing efficiency. The main role in the density variation is due to the inconsistent powder distribution and packing efficiency across the build plate, negatively affecting the part density.