​Design theories and methodologies are specifically developed to suit AM technologies. This research area focuses on optimising the design process efficiency. For non-experts, the ideation process, as well as the display and analysis of the designs conceptualised, require specific digital assistive tools. This post aims to scope these and summarise their uses.

Balling is a defect that can occur when the molten pool created during selective laser melting (SLM=L-PBF) becomes discontinuous and breaks into separated islands. In this post, we report and discuss how the powder particle arrangement impact the bead geometry and formation of balling defects during SLM.

During powder bed fusion processes, the laser power intensity decreases as the beam penetrates through the powder bed. The depth at which the absorbed intensity decreases to 1/e (~37%) of the initial absorbed intensity [4] is defined as the Optical Penetration Depth (OPD. Estimating the correct powder absorption and OPD values is critical to model powder bed fusion processes and predict the properties of the finished components.