Investigations of particle-process-part quality relationships in electron beam melting

Abstract

Electron beam melting is a powder bed fusion process capable of manufacturing parts from a variety of high-temperature alloys. Given that the process relies on feedstock recycling for process economics, understanding process-part quality relationships is critical. This work investigates process-part quality relationships in terms of the internal and external defects and component microstructure relative to a feedstock subjected to 33 build cycles without replacement. To accomplish this, a volume of fluid mesoscale model consisting of three different powder distributions were considered: (1) Monomodal; (2) As-measured; and (3) Irregular. Particle morphology was characterized using shape factors examined via optical microscopy. To approximate the particle shapes in three-dimensions, a method is presented that utilizes a binarized domain to define low frequency, macroscale particle “base” shapes implicitly and is thus not restricted to starlike particles. The discrete element method was also used to investigate velocity distributions and packing densities of the as-measured and irregular particles with respect to deviations in the nominal layer thickness of 50 μm. In general, beam power and scan speed were found to have an appreciable effect on microstructure formation and surface roughness. Finally, correlations were found between specific classifications of irregular particles and lack of fusion defect formation. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)