Numerical analysis of heat transfer in the selective laser melting (SLM) process

• Main Author: Ng, Siu Kwok.
• Other Authors: Chua Chee Kai
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Manufacturing::CAD/CAM systems
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45067
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Selective laser melting (SLM) is a powder-based additive manufacturing capable to produce parts layer-by-layer from a 3D CAD model. Currently there is a growing interest in industry for applying this technology for generating objects with high geometrical complexity. To introduce SLM process into industry for manufacturing real components, high mechanical properties of final product must be achieved. Thus it is important to predict the microstructure of the final product produced by SLM so as to perfect the use of SLM in the various industries. Advanced material such as alloy AlSi10Mg produced by SLM is being studied. The focus is on the elementary composition of the precipitates formed on both raw and heat-treated AlSi10Mg’s surfaces. The aim is to have a greater understanding of the alloy and contribute to the deeper study of the material. Thus several methods are explored for the determination of the precipitates. Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis conducted by means of Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM) and Powder Diffraction (XRD) are the techniques used due to their accuracy as well as their availability in the material lab.