In-situ observation of melting behavior depending on laser power during laser powder bed fusion using X-ray images
摘要
This study aimed to clarify the shape of the droplet and depression zone of pure titanium under overhang conditions during Laser Powder Bed Fusion through in-situ observations using X-ray imaging. To simulate the fabrication of an overhang shape, pure titanium powder was irradiated by a laser beam and observed in-situ using X-ray imaging to clarify the changes in melting behavior when the laser power was varied. At a lower laser power, Isotropic type melting behavior was observed because the droplet grew by laser irradiation along a straight line passing through the center of the droplet. As the laser power increased, the generated droplet moved within the depression zone, and the laser beam reflected from the side of the droplet hit the opposite side of the depression zone, expanding the depression zone horizontally. This corresponds to Horizontal type. As the laser power further increased, the droplet generated in the depression zone moved out of the laser path, and the laser beam continued to hit the bottom of the depression zone, causing the depression zone to expand downward. This corresponds to Vertical type. As described above, the melting behavior could be classified into three types, and the differences were caused by the positional relationship between the laser beam and droplet. An increase in laser power enhances the recoil pressure, causing a shift in the positional relationship between the laser beam and droplet. The growth rate, which was measured and calculated from the X-ray images, tended to be proportional to the laser power.