Laser powder forming, also known by the proprietary name (laser engineered net shaping) is an additive manufacturing technology developed for fabricating metal parts directly from a computer-aided design (CAD) solid model by using a metal powder injected into a molten pool created by a focused, high-powered laser beam. This technique is also equivalent to several trademarked techniques that have the monikers direct metal deposition (DMD), and laser consolidation (LC). Compared to processes that use powder beds, such as selective laser melting (SLM) objects created with this technology can be substantially larger, even up to several feet long.[1]
A high power laser is used to melt metal powder supplied coaxially to the focus of the laser beam through a deposition head. The laser beam typically travels through the center of the head and is focused to a small spot by one or more lenses. The X-Y table is moved in raster fashion to fabricate each layer of the object. The head is moved up vertically after each layer is completed.
Metal powders are delivered and distributed around the circumference of the head either by gravity, or by using a pressurized carrier gas. An inert shroud gas is often used to shield the melt pool from atmospheric oxygen for better control of properties, and to promote layer to layer adhesion by providing better surface wetting.
Other techniquesEdit
This process is similar to other 3D fabrication technologies in its approach in that it forms a solid component by the layer additive method. The LENS process can go from metal and metal oxide powder to metal parts, in many cases without any secondary operations. LENS is similar to selective laser sintering, but the metal powder is applied only where material is being added to the part at that moment. It can produce parts in a wide range of alloys, including titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, and other specialty materials; as well as composite and functionally graded materials. Primary applications for LENS technology include repair and overhaul, rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, and limited-run manufacturing for aerospace, defense, and medical markets. Microscopy studies show the LENS parts to be fully dense with no compositional degradation. Mechanical testing reveals outstanding as-fabricated mechanical properties.
The process can also make "near" net shape parts when it is not possible to make an item to exact specifications. In these cases post-production process like light machining, surface finishing, or heat treatment may be applied to achieve end compliance. It is used as finishing operations.
ReferencesEdit
^. THRE3D.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
External linksEdit
October 20, 2023
laser, engineered, shaping, been, suggested, that, this, article, merged, into, laser, metal, deposition, discuss, proposed, since, october, 2023, this, article, relies, excessively, references, primary, sources, please, improve, this, article, adding, seconda. It has been suggested that this article be merged into Laser metal deposition Discuss Proposed since October 2023 This article relies excessively on references to primary sources Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources Find sources Laser engineered net shaping news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2007 Learn how and when to remove this template message Laser powder forming also known by the proprietary name laser engineered net shaping is an additive manufacturing technology developed for fabricating metal parts directly from a computer aided design CAD solid model by using a metal powder injected into a molten pool created by a focused high powered laser beam This technique is also equivalent to several trademarked techniques that have the monikers direct metal deposition DMD and laser consolidation LC Compared to processes that use powder beds such as selective laser melting SLM objects created with this technology can be substantially larger even up to several feet long 1 Contents 1 Method 2 Other techniques 3 References 4 External linksMethod EditA high power laser is used to melt metal powder supplied coaxially to the focus of the laser beam through a deposition head The laser beam typically travels through the center of the head and is focused to a small spot by one or more lenses The X Y table is moved in raster fashion to fabricate each layer of the object The head is moved up vertically after each layer is completed Metal powders are delivered and distributed around the circumference of the head either by gravity or by using a pressurized carrier gas An inert shroud gas is often used to shield the melt pool from atmospheric oxygen for better control of properties and to promote layer to layer adhesion by providing better surface wetting Other techniques EditThis process is similar to other 3D fabrication technologies in its approach in that it forms a solid component by the layer additive method The LENS process can go from metal and metal oxide powder to metal parts in many cases without any secondary operations LENS is similar to selective laser sintering but the metal powder is applied only where material is being added to the part at that moment It can produce parts in a wide range of alloys including titanium stainless steel aluminum and other specialty materials as well as composite and functionally graded materials Primary applications for LENS technology include repair and overhaul rapid prototyping rapid manufacturing and limited run manufacturing for aerospace defense and medical markets Microscopy studies show the LENS parts to be fully dense with no compositional degradation Mechanical testing reveals outstanding as fabricated mechanical properties The process can also make near net shape parts when it is not possible to make an item to exact specifications In these cases post production process like light machining surface finishing or heat treatment may be applied to achieve end compliance It is used as finishing operations References Edit How Laser Powder Forming Works THRE3D com Archived from the original on 21 February 2014 Retrieved 11 February 2014 External links EditSandia National Laboratory LENS article Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Laser engineered net shaping amp oldid 1178123696, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
