Author : K. D. Sapate and Tejashree U. Apte

The evolution of Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies for the fabrication of different parts makes it appealing to high technology industries. Especially, due to its ability to create complex geometries with customizable material properties, this technology has gained significant academic as well as industry interest. Powder bed fusion is one of the AM techniques that uses energy beam for production. Selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM) are relatively new powder bed fusion techniques, which are capable of fabricating complex, multi-functional metal or alloy by computer aided drafting (CAD) directed selective melting of precursor powder beds. Titanium alloy is today’s most common used alloy because of its different properties. In this paper, Selective laser melting (SLM) and electron beam melting (EBM) processes are compared. Also, fabrication of Ti6Al4V alloy using EBM and SLM is reviewed which point up unique features of these technologies, especially the prospects for cutting metal or alloy products with controlled microstructure. This could alter or extend the traditional material science and engineering paradigm. Indeed, AM technologies utilizing EBM and SLM fabrication of complex, multi-functional, monolithic products of advanced metals or alloys pose the prospect for advance manufacturing or especially metal product manufacturing using CAD models.

Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Selective Laser Melting, Electron Beam Melting, Fabrication of Ti6Al4V

Article published in International Journal of Current Engineering and Technology, Vol.7, No.1 (Feb-2017)