Numerical And Experimental Characterization Of Melt Pool In Selective Laser Melting Of Ss316l

Abstract

The additive manufacturing technology Selective laser melting (SLM) also referred as laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) is a technique that can produce intricate metallic parts in 3D. However, maintaining an accurate surface finish and shape can be difficult because of the dynamic thermal cycles of melting and solidification. To produce high-quality products, it is essential to maintain the dynamic stability of melt pool in SLM. This requires studying the temperature distribution and thermal behaviour within the pool. In this study, a Finite Element Modelling (FEM) approach that was experimentally verified was utilized to precisely ascertain the thermal profiles and dimensions of the molten pool. To investigate the impact of different process variables on the shape of the pool during the selective laser melting (SLM) of SS316L powder, a transient model was employed. A FEM model was proposed to evaluate the temperature gradient and characteristics of the molten pool during SLM, with laser penetration depth also taken into account. The proposed heat source model was calibrated with data from the literature. The FEM model was subsequently adjusted and validated through further experimentation to ensure that it accurately predicts the melt pool dimensions and temperature profiles. The model findings were consistent with the experimental data, and the effects of interlayer and intertrack were examined. For each layer and track, the molten pool depth, width, and length of the and the temperature distribution were assessed, and the findings were analyzed for each variable. The FEM model had relative errors of 1.88%, 1.49%, and 2.12% for the predicted melt pool length, width, and depth, respectively, compared to the experimental measurements, for a range of optimal parameters.