In order to learn more about the underlying laser-matter interaction involved in laser-based metal 3D printing, the print process was observed through high-speed synchrotron X-ray imaging, an activity supported through Europe’s AMAZE (Additive Manufacturing Aiming towards Zero Waste and Efficient Production of High-Tech Metal Products) project. As the laser beam makes contact with the powder particles they are fused into a solid bead by laser melting, on a timescale of microseconds (millionths of a second). The study revealed the underlying physical phenomena during the deposition of layer melt tracks, including showing that the laser-induced gas/vapour jet promotes the formation of melt tracks and denuded zones via spattering. From Leung, CLA, Marussi, S, Atwood, RC, Towrie, M, Withers, PJ, Lee, PD, “In situ X-ray imaging of defect and molten pool dynamics in laser additive manufacturing”, Nature Comm. (2018) 9:1355. https://rdcu.be/K6Cz

Credit: Leung, CLA, Marussi, S, Atwood, RC, Towrie, M, Withers, PJ, Lee, PD, “In situ X-ray imaging of defect and molten pool dynamics in laser additive manufacturing”, Nature Comm. (2018) 9:1355. https://rdcu.be/K6Cz