Effects of mass energy and line mass on characteristics of the direct laser fabrication parts
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 12 March 2018
Issue publication date: 12 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the effects of mass energy and line mass on the geometrical dimensions, microstructures, hardness and mechanical properties of direct laser fabrication parts.
Design/methodology/approach
Direct laser fabrication is successfully used to manufacture a series of samples of AISI 316L stainless steel.
Findings
The width and height of the deposition layers increase with increasing mass energy and line mass. When the powder feed rate is 0.295 g/s, higher mass energy and line mass create more refined grains. However, mass energy and line mass have adverse effects on grain size at the powder feed rate of 0.241 or 0.187 g/s. Higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) values and reduced ductility values are obtained in comparison with those obtained by traditional methods. Thus, the increase in the mass energy and line mass improves the mechanical properties of the parts.
Originality/value
This study is helpful for the optimization of the parameters in the direct laser fabrication process.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the School of Material Science and Engineering for their mastery of the machine. The authors appreciate the support from the Institute of Sustainable Design and Manufacturing.
Citation
Wang, X., Deng, D. and Zhang, H. (2018), "Effects of mass energy and line mass on characteristics of the direct laser fabrication parts", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 270-275. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-03-2015-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited