Electron Beam Melting: From Shape Freedom to Material Properties Control at Macro- and Microscale

Abstract

Electron beam melting (EBM) is one of the constantly developing powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing technologies (AM) offering advanced control over the manufacturing process. Development of the additive manufacturing today is targeting both widening of the available materials classes, and introducing new manufacturing modalities. Present research is related to the new possibilities in tailoring different properties within additively manufactured components effectively adding “fourth dimension to the 3D-printing”. Through manipulating beam energy deposition (scanning strategy) it is possible to tailor quite different material properties selectively within each manufactured component, including crystalline and amorphous state, effective material density, as well as mechanical, thermal, electrical and acoustic properties. With the blends of precursor powder, it is also possible to acquire by choice both metal-metal composite and completely alloyed material. Specific examples are given in relation to the EBM, but majority of the conclusions are valid for the other PBF techniques as well.