Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) is a metal 3D printing technology that can create complex & high-performance parts for various applications. However, LPBF is NOT a one-size-fits-all solution for every part and every industry!
Beware - some parts may be more suitable for LPBF than others, depending on factors such as geometry, material, function, quality, and cost.
1. Design Freedom
LPBF printing can create parts with complex shapes, internal features, lattice structures, and topology optimization that are difficult or impossible to produce with conventional manufacturing methods! This opens a world of:
2. Material Diversity
LPBF printing can use a wide range of metal materials and alloys, such as:
This can enable tailoring the material properties to specific application requirements and creating multi-material or graded parts.
3. Part Consolidation
LPBF printing can create parts with integrated or reduced components that eliminate the need for assembly, welding, or fastening. This can:
4. Customization
LPBF printing can create parts with personalized features that meet the specific needs or preferences of the end users. This can enable:
To choose the best parts for LPBF printing, it is important to consider the following factors:
1. Geometry
The geometry of the part affects its printability and quality in LPBF printing. Parts that are more suitable for LPBF printing are those with:
than those with simple shapes or external features. Parts with overhangs, bridges, hollows, or thin walls may require support structures or special process parameters to avoid distortion or defects in LPBF printing.
2. Material
The material of the part affects its availability and cost in LPBF printing. Parts with materials that are compatible with LPBF printing are more suitable than parts with materials that are incompatible or unavailable. Parts with materials that have high melting point, low thermal conductivity, high thermal expansion coefficient, or high viscosity may require higher laser power or lower scan speed to achieve full melting or avoid balling in LPBF printing.
3. Function
The function of the part affects its performance and quality requirements in LPBF printing. Parts with critical functions that require:
are more suitable for LPBF printing than parts with non-critical functions that require low strength, flexibility, ductility, or aesthetics. Parts with critical functions may also require higher density, lower porosity, lower roughness, or higher accuracy in LPBF printing.
4. Quality
The quality of the part affects its acceptance criteria and inspection methods in LPBF printing. Parts with high quality standards that require strict dimensional accuracy, surface quality, mechanical properties, or functionality are more suitable for LPBF printing than parts with low quality standards that require loose dimensional accuracy, surface quality, mechanical properties, or functionality. Parts with high quality standards may also require more post-processing steps such as heat treatment, surface finishing, machining, or testing in LPBF printing.
5. Cost
The cost of the part affects its profitability and feasibility in LPBF printing. Parts with high value-added features that justify the high investment and running costs of LPBF printing are more suitable than parts with low value-added features that do not justify the high investment and running costs of LPBF printing. Parts with high value-added features may include:
Intech’s in-house software can analyse a portfolio of manufactured parts and recommend a list with which to begin your Additive Manufacturing journey.
Intech’s end to end expertise ensures that we provide first time right support from part identification to designing a part.
If you are interested in learning more about how to choose the best parts for LPBF printing, contact us today on marketing@intechadditive.com.
I hope this blog post has helped you understand how to identify the right set of parts to begin your additive journey!
Happy Printing!