Functional island scanning strategy for powder bed fusion

Abstract

Energy is transferred from the energy beam to the processed material during additive manufacturing (AM). The high energy input and uneven temperature distribution can result in a substantial temperature gradient, leading to significant thermal stress and warping deformation. One of the most influential factors in the material processing of additive manufacturing is the choice of scanning strategies. Therefore, optimizing the scanning strategy can help achieve a more even heat distribution across the part and reduce thermal distortion, which is crucial for producing high-quality SLM components. In this study, we developed a modified island scanning strategy and thermal management approach which is related to ordering the scanning sequence of islands, similar to the Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP) variant and it is also adapted for multiple laser cases. The introduction of modified island scan strategies aims to preserve the geometric integrity of the part, minimize distortion, and optimize the scanning process by considering the part’s geometric features, all while achieving the desired mechanical properties.