Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct additive laser manufacturing using gas- and water-atomised H13 tool steel powders
AU - Pinkerton, Andrew J.
AU - Li, L.
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - To date only gas-atomised tool steel powders have been used for direct laser additive manufacturing and the potential benefits of using water-atomised powders have not been explored. As the use of the process in the rapid tooling field is growing, there is a need to explore if the less expensive water-atomised materials can be realistically utilised. A comparative investigation is described, using gas- and water-atomised H13 powder deposited with a CO2 laser and coaxial powder feed nozzle. Multiple layer wall dimensions, composition, microstructure, surface finish and hardness are related to process conditions and the causes of the observed phenomena are discussed. An energy-balance method is used to model the temperature of the powders and the results used to explain some of the effects. Results indicate that using the lower cost water-atomised powder still allows a metallurgically sound component to be built and does not significantly affect surface finish. The build rate is, however, lower and the water-atomised powder tends to produce slightly softer walls, attributable to a higher temperature during tempering of deposited material by subsequent laser passes.
AB - To date only gas-atomised tool steel powders have been used for direct laser additive manufacturing and the potential benefits of using water-atomised powders have not been explored. As the use of the process in the rapid tooling field is growing, there is a need to explore if the less expensive water-atomised materials can be realistically utilised. A comparative investigation is described, using gas- and water-atomised H13 powder deposited with a CO2 laser and coaxial powder feed nozzle. Multiple layer wall dimensions, composition, microstructure, surface finish and hardness are related to process conditions and the causes of the observed phenomena are discussed. An energy-balance method is used to model the temperature of the powders and the results used to explain some of the effects. Results indicate that using the lower cost water-atomised powder still allows a metallurgically sound component to be built and does not significantly affect surface finish. The build rate is, however, lower and the water-atomised powder tends to produce slightly softer walls, attributable to a higher temperature during tempering of deposited material by subsequent laser passes.
KW - Gas-atomised
KW - Laser deposition
KW - Rapid prototyping
KW - Rapid tooling
KW - Water-atomised
U2 - 10.1007/s00170-003-1844-2
DO - 10.1007/s00170-003-1844-2
M3 - Journal article
VL - 25
SP - 471
EP - 479
JO - International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
JF - International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology
SN - 0268-3768
IS - 5-6
ER -