Laser Powder Bed Fusion and Selective Laser Melted Components Investigated with Highly Penetrating Radiation

Methods of incremental manufacturing, i.e. 3D printing, have been experiencing significant growth in recent years, both in terms of the development of modern technologies dedicated to various applications, and in terms of optimizing the parameters of the process itself so as to ensure the desired mechanical and strength properties of the parts produced in this way. High hopes are currently being pinned on the use of highly penetrating types of radiation, i.e. synchrotron and/or neutron radiation, for quantitative identification of parameters characterizing objects produced by means of 3D printing. Thanks to diffraction methodologies, it is feasible to obtain input information to optimize 3D printing procedures not only for finished prints but also to monitor in situ printing processes. Thanks to these methodologies, it is possible to obtain information on parameters that are critical from the perspective of application of such obtained elements as stresses generated during the printing procedure itself as well as residual stresses after printing. This parameter, from the point of view of tensile strength, compression strength as well as fatigue strength, is crucial and determines the possibility of introducing elements produced by incremental methods into widespread industrial use.