Influences of the scanning strategy on surface roughness in selective laser melting. (December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Shyang-Jye; Wei, Zhi-Xuan
• Other Names: Hsieh Wen-Hsiang guest-editor.; Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo guest-editor.; Wong Pak Kin guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Volume 236:Number 14(2022)
• Page Start: 1853
• Page End: 1866
• Publication Date: 2022-12
• Subjects: Selective laser melting -- surface roughness -- scanning strategy -- Taguchi method; Mechanical engineering -- Periodicals; Engineering -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufacturing processes -- Periodicals; 629.8
• DOI: 10.1177/0954405420978119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4054

Abstract

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a powder-based additive manufacturing technology that can be used to fabricate high-density components with complex geometry. Several studies have investigated the process parameters that affect surface quality. However, most researchers have ignored the importance of the scanning strategy. In this study, the Taguchi method was used to investigate the relation between warpage and fundamental parameters (laser power, scanning speed, overlap, and scanning angle) to fabricate stable and undistorted specimens. Moreover, several scanning strategies (offset scanning, line scanning, meander scanning, meander scanning with hatch vector, and lightning scanning) were applied to explore the influences on surface quality. The results revealed that meander scanning and lightning scanning generated consistent specimens without large deformation. The process parameters, such as an increased 45° scanning direction and 30% overlap, optimized the surface quality. A lower scanning speed (500 mm/s) could generate lower R a of specimens, with the exception of lightning scanning with an increased 45° scanning direction. This study may contribute to the growing understanding of the scanning strategy in SLM.