The effect of scanning strategies on electron beam sintering

The electron beam technology offers a wide range of possibilities for the use with industrial production processes. In addition to welding applications the fast beam deflection with electromagnetic coils can be used within additive layer manufacturing to gain a higher scanning speed and to realize new deflection figures compared to laser based systems. Therefore, the electron beam sintering exhibits a high application potential in order to achieve higher build-up rates. After explaining the functional principle and the relating process steps the examination of different scanning strategies is presented. By means of part analysis and visual observation, determining effects could be identified. In the following, the analysis of temperature profiles by means of thermal simulation was carried out in order to optimize the sintering of one layer. Based on these results the adaptation of process parameters could be derived. It is shown that the scanning strategies have a significant influence on the process and the part quality respectively.

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