1.SLM 3D printing raw material kinds
In SLM 3D printing, metal powders-which have good plasticity, flowability, and high melting point characteristics-can satisfy the needs of high-temperature melting, fast cooling, and layer by layer stacking in SLM printing process. Right now, SLM 3D printing mostly employs the following kinds of raw materials:
Material in stainless steel: Among the often used raw components in SLM 3D printing is stainless steel powder. It can rapidly and effectively generate tiny quantities of complicated industrial components and boasts great cost-effectiveness, good corrosion resistance, and high strength. Widely utilized in aerospace, medical equipment, automobile manufacture, and other sectors, stainless steel powder consists in several forms including 304, 304L, 316, 316L, nickel free austenitic stainless steel.
Another crucial raw resource in SLM 3D printing is aluminum alloy powder, which is low density, high strength, exceptional plasticity, and great thermal performance. Currently, aluminum silicon AlSi12 and AlSi10Mg are the most often utilized alloys for SLM 3D printing. Applications for these aluminum alloy powders abound in thin-walled components, lightweight construction, heat exchangers, and other sectors.
Because of its great wear resistance and corrosion resistance, cobalt chromium alloy powder is often used for printing different artificial joints and plastic surgery implant devices. It is also somewhat extensively applied in the field of dentistry. By precisely controlling the microstructure and characteristics of cobalt chromium alloys, SLM 3D printing technology satisfies the need for high-precision and high dependability parts in the medical industry.
Widely employed in the aerospace sector, titanium alloy powder is a perfect material for manufacturing important components including turbine disks and aircraft engine blades because of its high temperature resistance, great corrosion resistance, high strength, and low density. Titanium alloy parts' structural design can be maximized by SLM 3D printing technology, therefore enhancing their performance and dependability.
Appropriate for demanding conditions with high temperature and high pressure, nickel alloy material possesses oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance. Accurate control of the microstructure and composition of nickel alloys made possible by SLM 3D printing technology satisfies the application criteria in high temperature and high pressure settings. Applications for nickel alloys are somewhat wide in areas including petrochemicals and aerospace technologies.
Various alloy components: Apart from the above mentioned basic raw materials, SLM 3D printing can also make use of various alloy materials including magnesium alloys, copper alloys, high-temperature alloys (such as Inconel series alloys), etc. These alloy materials have special qualities and uses that can satisfy many sectors for high-precision, high-strength, and dependability parts.
2.Raw material characteristics of SLM 3D printing
The performance and quality of produced goods depend much on the raw materials used in SLM 3D printing. These properties essentially consist in powder particle size, particle size distribution, sphericity, flowability, bulk density, and chemical composition.
One of the main elements influencing the quality of SLM 3D printing is powder particle size and particle size dispersion. While a too big particle size can damage the accuracy and surface quality of produced items, a too tiny powder particle size might cause printing speed to drop. To guarantee the accuracy and quality of the printed goods, it is thus essential to select the suitable powder particle size and particle size distribution range.
High sphericity powder particles improve flowability and can be equally distributed on the powder bed, therefore enhancing the accuracy and surface quality of produced goods. High sphericity powder particles can help minimize powder splashing and agglomeration during the printing process, hence optimizing printing efficiency.
The loose density is the powder particle density in their natural stacking form. High loose packing density powder can increase printing efficiency and help to lower powder waste during the printing process. High loose packing density powders can thus also help to increase the mechanical qualities and density of printed goods.
Performance of printed materials is largely influenced by the chemical makeup of the raw components. Therefore, it is essential to tightly monitor the chemical composition of SLM 3D printing raw materials to guarantee that the produced parts satisfies the design criteria.
3.Application of SLM 3D Printing Raw Materials
Raw materials for SLM 3D printing find wide use in many different disciplines. These are some usual application scenarios:
Aerospace subject: Aerospace components with intricate forms and great accuracy, such turbine disks, aircraft engine blades, etc., can be produced by SLM 3D printing technology. High-strength, highly corrosion-resistant raw materials such titanium alloys and nickel alloys are needed since these components must tolerate demanding environments of high temperature and high pressure.
SLM 3D printing technology can produce very precise and dependable medical implants in the field of biomedicine including artificial joints, dental implants, etc. These implants need strong biocompatibility and mechanical characteristics, hence titanium alloys and cobalt chromium alloys must be used from biocompatible raw materials.
SLM 3D printing technology can produce lightweight, high-strength, highly precise automotive parts including engine mounts, brake systems, etc. in the field of production of cars. High-strength, highly corrosion-resistant raw materials like aluminum alloy and stainless steel are needed since these sections must tolerate big weights and vibrations.
SLM 3D printing technology can produce complex shapes and high accuracy mold parts in the field of mold manufacturing including cooling channels, cores, etc. High strength and wear resistant raw materials like stainless steel and cobalt chromium alloy are therefore required for these sections since they demand great accuracy and wear resistance.
https://www.china-3dprinting.com/metal-3d-printing/ti6al4v-3d-printing-medical-implant-parts.html