Process chain of Laser Powder Bed Fusion
From digital model to finished part
While in previous courses we already gave a more general overview of the process chain that the different AM processes have in common, in this course we will dive deeper into the Laser Powder Bed Fusion (L-PBF) Metal process.
In general, we divide the process into 3 phases: The pre-process, the AM process and the post-process. Instead of only focusing on the AM process itself, quality assurance needs to be considered across all 3 processes.
On a higher level, this process needs to be integrated into the overall supply chain of a company, especially regarding supporting activities such as sourcing, production planning and logistics.
Video of the Powder Bed Fusion Process
The L-PBF process in action
The following video by SLM SOLUTIONS the main steps of the L-PBF process on a SLM SOLUTIONS SLM280 Twin. The key moments in the video are:
- 00:00: Data preparation
- 00:11: Build process (time lapse & schematic)
- 00:53: Powder removal
- 01:09: Removal of the part
- 01:22: Surface treatment (blasting with glass beads)
- 01:28: Printed part (hot forming tool)
You can dive deeper into the 3 phases in the following topics by selecting them below.