GS-DMLS2000 Sealed-Chamber Laser Cladding DED 3D Printing Equipment:
1. 2000W Fiber Laser
2. Sealed Chamber Inert Environment
3. Positioning Accuracy 0.1mm
4. Accurate...
SLM Metal 3D Printing
What Is SLM Metal 3D Printing
3D metal printing has become an important branch of additive manufacturing. In particular, laser melting of metal using the SLM process enables the fast, economical production of components made of aluminum, stainless steel, tool steel, Inconel, titanium, copper and many other metallic materials. In selective laser melting (SLM), the powdery, metallic starting material is melted at the processing points by the thermal energy of a high-power laser. Layer by layer, components are created that retain the specific properties of the starting material to the greatest possible extent, offer a density of 99.9% and are characterized by exceptional strength. A unique, fine microstructure of the 3D-printed metal workpieces and excellent mechanical properties are characteristic of SLM 3D printing. In order for the parts to be a complete success, there are some guidelines to follow during the design process.
Advantages of SLM Metal 3D Printing
Intricate Geometries
This metal 3D printing technology allows you creating thin-walled objects and intricate geometries to get lightweight designs.
Stress Resistant
Selective Laser Metal gives you access to materials with great mechanical properties, to create parts handling loads and stress.
Small Batches
Using this technology to get your 3D printed metal part is perfect is particularly adapted if you need to produce small batches.
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Large Industrial 3D PrinterLarge industrial 3d printers are designed to work in a range of harsh environments. As a result, they are built with high print quality, low maintenance durability and high-volume continuous...read more -
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Industrial Metal 3D Printer1. Customization for aerospace, mold and other industrialread more
2. Small size and high automation level
3. High-end optical system, high forming quality
Why Choose Us
Our Factory
Guosheng Laser has established Xi'an Aerospace R&D and Design Center, Weinan Production Base and Xianyang Production Base. The company processes a workshop area of 2,000 m2, the quantity of employees is 30, including 5 senior research staff and engineers, which is capable of providing a complete set of solutions for laser additive manufacturing technology with integrated structure and function.
Production Market
The annual sales amount of Guosheng Laser reaches 10 million USD, including China 70%, East Asia 10%, Southeast Asia 10% and East Europe 10%.
Our Service
As a professional manufacturer of Laser equipment, Guosheng Laser is dedicated to providing our customers with high-quality and competitive price of integrated solutions of laser additive manufacturing, laser repair and 3D printing, and implementing multi-level and multi-field cooperation with customers on laser technology.
Products Range
The main products of Guosheng Laser includes: Laser cladding machine, Laser hardening machine, Laser cleaning machine, SLM 3D printing machine.
Materials of SLM Metal 3D Printing
Selective laser melting (SLM) machines can operate with a work space up to 1 m (39.37 in) in X, Y and Z. Some of the materials being used in this process can include Ni based super alloys, copper, aluminum, stainless steel, tool steel, cobalt chrome, titanium and tungsten. SLM is especially useful for producing tungsten parts because of the high melting point and high ductile-brittle transition temperature of this metal. In order for the material to be used in the process it must exist in atomized form (powder form). These powders are generally gas atomized prealloys, being the most economical process to obtain spherical powders on an industrial scale. Sphericity is desired because it guarantees a high flowability and packing density, which translates into fast and reproducible spreading of the powder layers. Highly spherical powders with a low level of internal porosity are produced by plasma atomization and powder spheroidization. To further optimize flowability, narrow particle size distributions with a low percentage of fine particles like 15 – 45 μm or 20 – 63 μm are typically employed. Currently available alloys used in the process include AISI 316L, AISI 304, C67, F53, H13, 17-4 PH and 15-5 stainless steel, maraging steel, cobalt chromium, inconel 625 and 718, copper-based alloys (CW510 Brass, Ecobrass, Bronze), aluminum AlSi10Mg, and titanium Ti6Al4V. The mechanical properties of samples produced using selective laser melting differ from those manufactured using casting. AlSiMg samples produced using direct metal laser sintering exhibit a higher yield strength than those constructed of commercial as-cast A360.0 alloy by 43% when constructed along the xy-plane and 36% along the z-plane. While the yield strength of AlSiMg has been shown to increase in both the xy-plane and z-plane, the elongation at break decreases along the build direction. These improvement of the mechanical properties of the direct metal laser sintering samples has been attributed to a very fine microstructure.
Applications of SLM Metal 3D Printing
Aerospace
SLM 3D printing is widely used in the aerospace industry to produce lightweight yet structurally robust components. This includes intricate engine parts, turbine blades, brackets, and other aerospace components with complex geometries that were traditionally challenging to manufacture.
Medical & Healthcare
SLM 3D printing is utilized to manufacture patient-specific medical implants with intricate structures. This includes implants for orthopedic applications, such as hip and knee replacements, as well as dental implants. Creating customized implants based on a patient’s unique anatomy enhances the overall fit and performance.
Automotive
In the automotive sector, SLM 3D printing is employed to create lightweight and high-strength components, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and overall vehicle performance. Applications include engine components, brackets, and customized automotive parts.
Electronics
SLM 3D printing is used in the electronics industry for producing heat sinks, customized connectors, and other components with specific thermal and electrical properties.
Tooling and Molds
SLM 3D printing is used for rapid prototyping and production of tooling and molds for various manufacturing processes. This allows for the creation of complex and intricate tooling designs, reducing lead times and costs in the manufacturing industry.
Research and Development
SLM 3D printing is used in research and development for the rapid prototyping of metal components. It enables engineers and designers to quickly iterate and test new designs, accelerating the product development cycle.
Customized Industrial Components
SLM 3D printing is employed for the production of customized and low-volume industrial components, offering flexibility in design and manufacturing without the need for expensive tooling.
How Does SLM Metal 3D Printing Work ?
01/
Preparation
The process begins with creating a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) model of the object to be printed. This digital model is then sliced into thin cross-sectional layers using specialized software.
02/
Powder Bed
A thin layer of metal powder is spread uniformly across the build platform. This platform is located within a controlled environment, typically in a chamber filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen or argon, to prevent oxidation of the metal powder.
03/
Laser Melting
A high-powered laser beam is precisely directed onto the powder layer, selectively melting and fusing the metal particles according to the pattern of the current layer as defined by the sliced CAD model. The laser's intensity, speed, and location are carefully controlled to achieve the desired melting and fusion.
04/
Layer by Layer Building
Once a layer is complete, the build platform is lowered by a thickness equal to the height of the next layer, and a new layer of metal powder is spread. The process is repeated, with each new layer being melted and fused onto the previous layer.
05/
Cooling and Solidification
After the completion of all layers, the part is allowed to cool down gradually to solidify the melted metal and form a fully functional, dense, and structurally sound 3D object.
06/
Post-Processing
Depending on the specific requirements of the part, there might be additional post-processing steps such as removing excess powder, heat treatment to relieve stresses, and surface finishing to achieve the desired final appearance and properties.
Standard Surface Finishes of SLM Metal 3D Printing
Spray painting
Get painted according to the color pattern provided by the customer (including matte paint, high-gloss paint, electroplating-imitation paint, varnish, leather paint,etc).
Polished
The surface texture is polished in a variety of ways to meet the actual needs of customers. The transparent parts can be polished accordingly to improve transparency and light transmittance.
Electroplating
Provide electroplating services, improve the overall strength of the parts, provide metal-like surface texture, and make it have certain metal characteristics.
Metal plating
At the specific bottom hole position that needs to be processed, the internal thread is processed. The surface of the part is glazed to better imitate the appearance of handicrafts. Have mature assembly experience to ensure the overall display of the product.
Glazing assembly
The unique outer coating processing ability improves the strength of the product structure, reduces external wear, and can better avoid damage caused by normal storage and use.
Reinforced coating
A variety of measuring equipment provides reasonable measure services according to the actual needs of customers.
Comparison Factors of Different SLM Metal 3D Printing Technologies
Material Options
Each technology has its own compatible materials. Metal Binder Jetting supports a variety of metals and alloys, including stainless steel, aluminum and titanium. SLM, EBM and DMLS also offer a variety of material options that enable the production of parts with specific mechanical, thermal or chemical properties. It is worth clarifying in advance exactly which materials you want to use.
Surface Finishing And Post-processing
The surface finish of 3D-printed metal parts can vary depending on the technology used. Metal binder jetting may require additional post-processing steps to achieve the desired surface quality. SLM and DMLS typically produce parts with smoother surfaces, while EBM may require additional surface treatments.
Accuracy And Resolution
Accuracy and resolution play a crucial role, especially in the production of intricate or highly detailed parts. SLM and DMLS are known for their high accuracy and resolution, enabling the creation of complex geometries with fine details. Metal Binder Jetting and EBM have a slightly lower resolution, but can still achieve satisfactory results for many applications.
Build Speed And Scalability
Build speed and scalability are important aspects, especially for large-scale production. Metal Binder Jetting is known for its high productivity and scalability and is therefore suitable for manufacturing applications. SLM and DMLS offer good build speeds, but can be slower compared to Metal Binder Jetting. EBM is characterized by a relatively high build speed and is often preferred for large, complex parts.
Cost Considerations
Cost considerations play an important role in the adoption of metal 3D printing technologies. Metal Binder Jetting generally offers lower material costs and higher productivity, making it a cost-effective option for certain applications. SLM, EBM and DMLS may have higher equipment and material costs, but still offer excellent quality and versatility.
Applications
Metal 3D printing technologies are used in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical and jewelry. The cost-effectiveness and scalability of metal binder jetting make it ideal for rapid prototyping and low-volume production. SLM, EBM and DMLS are commonly used for the production of functional prototypes, complex components and customized medical implants.
Design Guidelines for SLM Metal 3D Printing Components
The Flatter The Angle, The Poorer The Surface Quality
With 3D metal printing, the angles of the components must be given special consideration during design. If the angles constructed are too flat at less than 45° - resulting in downward facing surfaces - the molten layer sags through the loose powder underneath. This leads to the formation of slag and significantly impairs surface quality. Furthermore, flat angles require the use of support structures. Supported surfaces are always of poorer quality for printing reasons and should be avoided as far as possible for high surface qualities. Therefore, design your components with steep angles greater than 45° to avoid slag formation and to get by with as few support structures as possible.
Support Structures: Welcome And Not Welcome
Support structures, also known as supports, put designers in a real quandary when designing components to be printed. On the one hand, support structures prevent the deformation of the components during 3D printing and minimize the shrink line; on the other hand, the surface quality of the components suffers on the surfaces to which support structures are attached. Last but not least, support structures inevitably lead to reworking - because the supports have to be removed after printing. To ensure the generally high quality of your components, the fewer support structures, the better. What exactly can be built without support structures also always depends on the material.
Thermal Stress, Shrinkage And The Effect On Quality
Selective laser melting sometimes produces immensely high melting temperatures, which are 1650° C for titanium and still 1200° C for stainless steel. In combination with fast cooling rates (less than 1ms for - 100° C), material-specific stresses occur in the material. The stresses accumulate over all printed layers, since with each printing process the underlying layers are also heated and cooled again. The negative thermal influences can be mitigated directly in the design.
Tolerance Values In 3D Metal Printing
In 3D metal printing, the tolerances do not correspond to conventional manufacturing. Possible tolerances in SLM are assigned to class "M" according to ISO 2768. Depending on the shape and contour, the tolerances can deviate even further and lie in the range of ± 0.4% or even ± 0.3%. For very exact component sides, it may therefore be necessary to refine with post-processing, for example by milling.
Our factory
Xi'an Guosheng Laser Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise specializing in R&D, manufacturing and sales of automatic laser cladding machine, high-speed laser cladding machine, laser hardening machine, laser welding machine, laser cleaning machine and laser 3D printer. Xi'an Guosheng Laser Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2015(Its wholly-owned subsidiary: Shaanxi Guosheng Laser Technology Co., LTD.). Guosheng Laser has established Xi'an Aerospace R&D and Design Center, Weinan Production Base and Xianyang Production Base. The company processes a workshop area of 2,000 m2, the quantity of employees is 30, including 5 senior research staff and engineers, which is capable of providing a complete set of solutions for laser additive manufacturing technology with integrated structure and function. Guosheng Laser always attaches great importance to innovation and research and development. The engineers team covers the research and development, design, development, testing, analysis, pre-sales and after-sales services of laser cladding equipment and other projects. With huge technical resources, strong R&D strength, advanced production technology, fast delivery cycle, and flexible technical services, we provide customers with cost-effective products and considerate services.
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As one of the most professional slm metal 3d printing manufacturers and suppliers in China, we're featured by quality products and competitive price. If you're going to buy hot sell slm metal 3d printing for sale, welcome to get quotation from our factory. Also, customized service is available.
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