26505
26505
Abstract
Unlike conventional methods that involve removing components from a product, the groundbreaking
idea behind additive manufacturing (AM) is the gradual creation of materials. A computer-controlled
laser is often used in additive manufacturing to shape and consolidate powder feedstock in a layer-by-
layer fashion to arbitrary shapes. The aerospace, defense, automotive, and biomedical sectors have high
standards, and AM is now being refined to create complex-shaped functional metallic components out of
metals, alloys, and other materials. Lightweight structural components with series similar mechanical
characteristics may be produced using Selective Laser Melting (SLM), one of the AM technologies that
eliminate the requirement for part specific tooling or downstream sintering procedures, among other
things. The low weight and excellent mechanical and chemical qualities of aluminium make it an ideal
material for such environmentally designed components. We need further information on how
processing circumstances and material qualities affect the microstructural and mechanical properties of
AM produced components as well as the metallurgical processes that produce them. Following this, we
provide a comprehensive overview of AM's material and process components, including the mechanical
and microstructural features of AM-processed parts as well as the physical characteristics of AM-
optimized materials. Ultimately, the samples made using SLM-Alsi10Mg demonstrated an ultimate
tensile strength of 150 MPa, yield strength of 120 MPa, and an elongation of 20%, as determined by the
testing data. Mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg, additive manufacturing, laser powder bed fusion,
selective laser melting, and related terms.
Keywords: Additive Manufacturing, Selective laser Melting, AlSi10Mg, Mechanical Properties and
ANNOVA.
1. Introduction
The term "rapid manufacturing" (RM) refers to a method of advanced production that was introduced to
the public in the 1980s. Quick tooling (RT) was once a part of what was formerly known as rapid
prototyping (RP) [1]. It's possible for RM to include replacement parts, bespoke components, and
limited series manufacturing runs that end up in the hands of the consumer. The currently agreed-upon
name for any methods that use layers to create an item is additive manufacturing (AM). Over 30
different AM approaches, including both direct and indirect methods, are available [2]. Despite sharing a
same goal and methodology, the technologies used in AM processes exhibit striking differences upon
closer inspection. The two AM techniques discussed here are DMLS and SLM, or selective laser melting
and direct metal laser sintering. The temperature of the powder bed, used to sinter or melt the metal
powder, is the key differentiator among various AM systems. Several studies have shown that AM
technique [3], base material, layer thickness, laser type, build strategy, and post-processing all affect the
mechanical qualities and quality of the product [4]. After more than 20 years of research, additive
manufacturing (AM) is now one of the world's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing processes. The
first approach for AM came out in the late 80s and was used to make models and prototypes. Material
incremental manufacturing (MIM) is the foundation of AM, which is in contrast to the material removal
procedure used in traditional machining methods. Using a computer-controlled laser as the energy
source [5], additive manufacturing entails layer-by-layer shaping and consolidation of feedstock, which
are usually powder materials, to arbitrary designs. The first step in making anything from a computer-
aided design (CAD) model is to mathematically split it into tiny layers. The last step in making the item
is using a scanning laser beam to selectively consolidate the deposited material layers. Slices of the CAD
model are shown by the shaped layers [6]. Thus, AM is also known as digital manufacturing, e-
manufacturing, solid freeform fabrication, and so forth. Incorporating elements of laser technology,
materials science, and mechanical engineering into a single process, additive manufacturing has the
potential to completely transform the manufacturing sector [7]. The well-established AM approaches are
quite adaptable since they are based on the same processing principle. The original AM methods include
stereolithography equipment, 3D printing, fused deposition modeling, laminated object manufacturing,
selective laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling. Low melting point polymer prototypes used as
inspection or communication tools are the most common materials used in AM techniques [8]. Rapid
prototyping using computer-aided design (CAD) files allows for more efficient production development
iterations. Now that AM is at a mature growth stage, the manufacture of polymer conceptual prototypes
is no longer the emphasis of AM research. To fulfill the high standards set by the aerospace, automotive,
rapid tooling, and biomedical industries [9], the next logical step for AM techniques is to create complex
shaped functional metallic components, such as metals, alloys, and metal matrix composites (MMCs),
which are difficult to make using traditional methods [10]. Real production parts (i.e., end-use items)
with fundamental mechanical qualities fulfilling industrial criteria are now being made using AM
components, which were before only utilized as visualization tools. There are three common procedures
for AM production of inexpensive and end-use metallic components: laser sintering (LS), laser melting
(LM), and laser metal deposition (LMD) [11]. These three forms of AM technology are known by
various names depending on the institution or business. When it comes to additive manufacturing, SLM
is one of the RP methods that allows for the direct creation of metal components from powdered
material. Process parameter improvement and material development have already been the subject of a
great deal of research. As a result of these advancements, the SLM process has been extended to directly
fabricate a variety of functional parts [12]. For example, we have tested a graded Cu-tool steel insert and
found that it transferred heat more efficiently. Additionally, we have used the SLM machine to obtain
components for 3D porous filters that are fine-structured and have a customized pattern of micron-sized
channels. A bespoke surgery orienting model was created using SLM technology by PM100 and then
utilized in an actual surgical procedure [13]. The SLM is a method of additive manufacturing that
involves building components layer by layer. The part's CAD data guides a laser source to selectively
scan the powder bed. The metal powder particles may be melted and fused together to produce almost
entirely dense components using a high intensity laser beam. Parts that are almost completely dense are
produced by melting and consolidating successive layers of metal powder particles on top of one
another. Post-processing is then limited to surface polishing [14]. Because of its low density and
excellent mechanical qualities, aluminum is a popular choice for components that must be lightweight
without sacrificing strength. Since Al-Si alloys are casting alloys that are also weldable, they are the
primary focus. Due to the minimal difference between the liquidus and solidus temperatures [15],
AlSi10Mg is reasonably simple to process by laser applications. This makes it a good alternative to high
strength aluminum alloys, which may be toughened using a particular heat treatment. Many industries,
including those dealing with food, chemicals, cars, and aircraft, rely on the AlSi10Mg alloy. Its chemical
make-up is identical to that of ISO 3522, and adding magnesium to an Al-Si alloy causes the
precipitation of Mg2Si, which fortifies the matrix without drastically altering its other mechanical
characteristics [16]. By creating components with structurally solid and highly customizable geometrical
complexity, SLM of aluminum may open up new possibilities in applications that need interior
structures and voids, such as lightweight structures and heat sinks. This research examines SLM of
AlSi10Mg from two perspectives: the physical, including density and surface quality, and the economic,
including productivity. We examine the SLM of two AlSi10Mg powders from different vendors as a
first step in our inquiry [17]. The quality of the finished item may be affected by factors such as the
chemical composition, particle size and distribution, flowability, and the technology used to produce the
powder. These factors contribute to the deposition of layers and their melting behavior. A process
window for this material under these circumstances (fiber laser, Argon environment) was defined by
doing single track scans with varied scanning settings. This was the first step towards producing three-
dimensional (3D) AlSi10Mg components using SLM [18]. Scan parameters such as laser power (P),
scanning speed (v), and scan spacing (ss) are then fine-tuned for 3D items in bulk according to
productivity, surface quality, and density. At last, we look at the microstructure and pores that the SLM-
process created. The castability, weldability, and corrosion resistance of aluminum-silicon alloys are all
quite good [19]. There are a plethora of uses for Al-Si alloys in the automotive, aircraft, and home
sectors because of their desirable mechanical characteristics, excellent heat conductivity, and low
weight. The precipitation of Mg2Si, made possible by alloying magnesium with Al-Si, greatly reinforces
the matrix without altering any of the other mechanical characteristics of the alloy [20].
2. Experimental Procedure
2.1 AlSi10Mg Material
German company SLM solution group AG provides the metal powder with the chemical composition of
the AlSi10Mg alloy, as stated in Table 1. The size distribution of the powder particles varies between 20
and 63 µm. Tensile testing is conducted on the SLM-AlSi10Mg specimens in accordance with ASTM
standard E8/E8M. The specifications of the circular-bar rod specimen are as follows: a 100 mm long
total diameter, a 25 mm long gauge diameter, and a 6 mm fillet radius (Figure 1).
(a) (b)
Figure 1. a) Line diagram b) 3D model.
platform. This helped to decrease deformation caused by heat stresses. Concept Laser is a proprietary
scan pattern.
(a) (b)
Figure 3. SLM schematic diagram and printing process.
3.2. Hardness
We used a Hoytom Minor-69 hardness tester to measure the hardness. The ISO 6508-1:2005 standard
was used for measuring hardness. Figure 7 shows the average surface roughness that was obtained by
combining Parts 1 and 3 with five separate measurements performed in various zones. One of the first
indicators of mechanical qualities is hardness. Hence, several process parameters have had their
hardness studied. The hardness of SLM samples was measured at various scanning velocities and laser
powers, as shown in Figure 8. The rigidity of specimens created at scanning velocities ranging from
1200 to 1600 mm/s. There is no relationship between density and hardness. At 4000 mm/s, the density of
the scanned samples is about 90%. Using 250 or 350 W has no effect on the hardness. There is no
correlation between scanning velocity and the resultant hardness for this range of velocities, in contrast
to other studies that found a hardness increase with increasing scanning velocities. The microstructure's
hardness seems to peak at 128±5 HV, even at 1400 mm/s scanning speeds. The SLM-produced
specimens are much harder than those created by conventional methods because of the high
solidification rates and scanning velocities.
3.3. Microstructure
Microstructural analysis using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) is essential for building dense
components, which in turn requires a melt pool that is cohesive and self-contained, rather than composed
of separate subareas. Increasing the scanning velocity, on the one hand, reduces the energy per unit
length. Conversely, scanning velocity has a beneficial effect on SLM process productivity. Therefore, a
higher scanning velocity necessitates a higher laser power. Nevertheless, process instability and
spattering are brought about by superheating, which occurs when the laser power is increased while
maintaining a constant beam diameter. To attain good mechanical characteristics with aluminum, which
is highly reflective and thermally conductive, a laser power of 350 W or more, scanning at a velocity of
1200 mm/s, is required. The energy per unit length is insufficient to produce dense components at even
higher scanning velocities. Scan speeds of up to 1200 mm/s are possible when using a 350 W laser to
produce dense components. With a 250 W laser power, the scanning velocity may be raised to 1200
mm/s, allowing for a faster construction pace. These may be attributed to the quick cooling and
solidification of the AlSi10Mg SLM components, which leads to a highly finely distributed Si phase
and, likely, the existence of Mg2Si, even though no such precipitates were seen. Figure 10 shows the
very fine microstructure made of tiny Al-matrix cells/dendrites adorned with Si phase.
(a) (b)
(c) (d)
Figure 9: Microstructure characterization by SEM analysis.
performance. According to Figures 10 and 11, scan speed and hatching diatance are the three most
influential factors, followed by laser power.
To perform an ANOVA with grouping, we need to have different groups or factors that we can compare.
Let's assume we categorize the specimens into two groups based on the Ultimate Tensile Stress (Peak
Stress) values.
• Group 1: Specimens with Ultimate Tensile Stress less than 330 MPa
• Group 2: Specimens with Ultimate Tensile Stress equal to or greater than 330 MPa
Based on these groups, we can then perform a one-way ANOVA to determine if there's a significant
difference between these groups.
Categorized Data:
Group 1 (Ultimate Tensile Stress < 330 MPa):
• S - 1: 328.680 MPa
• S - 2: 326.857 MPa
• S - 4: 322.681 MPa
• S - 7: 321.242 MPa
• S - 8: 316.564 MPa
Group 2 (Ultimate Tensile Stress ≥ 330 MPa):
• S - 3: 357.562 MPa
• S - 5: 341.376 MPa
• S - 6: 342.655 MPa
• S - 9: 350.565 MPa
Calculations:
Calculate Means:
• Group 1 Mean:
Mean1=(328.680+326.857+322.681+321.242+316.564)/5
= 1,615.024/5
=323.005 MPa
• Group 2 Mean:
Mean2=(357.562+341.376+342.655+350.565)/4=348.040 MPa
Calculate Overall Mean:
Overall Mean= ∑Ultimate Tensile Stress / Total number of specimens
Overall Mean=(1,615.024+1,392.158) / 9 =334.02 MPa
Group 2 Variance:
SSW2=(357.562−348.040)2+(341.376−348.040)2+(342.655−348.040)2+(350.565−348.040)2
SSW2=90.79+44.56+29.29+6.37=171.01 MPa2
Total SSW:
SSW=SSW1+SSW2=93.66+171.01=264.67 MPa2
Degrees of Freedom:
Between-Groups DF:
DF Between=k−1=2−1=1
Within-Groups DF:
DF Within=N−k=9−2=7
Total DF:
DF Total=N−1=9−1=8
Since the p-value is significantly smaller than 0.05, we reject the null hypothesis that there is no
difference in Ultimate Tensile Stress between the two groups. This means that the grouping based on
Ultimate Tensile Stress (less than 330 MPa vs. 330 MPa or more) leads to a significant difference in the
average stress values between the groups.
The significant result implies that there is a meaningful difference in Ultimate Tensile Stress between
the two groups. This could be due to various factors such as material properties, processing conditions,
or other variables influencing the stress characteristics.
3.5 Coding Algorithm for Alarm/Alert systems based on Build chamber temperature.
Temperature Alarm system design via Arduino Uno (UNO R3 SMD Atmega328P Board - Clone
Compatible Model) involves connecting temperature sensor to the bread board (240-131), comprising
of resistors, connectors, a buzzer – for alarming when the withstand temperature of the build chamber
is reached.
Once the everything connected on bread board with Arduino uno systems as desired way, connect the
Arduino uno to desktop/laptop, followed by coding in Arduino Uno IDE based of C language – OOPS
based.
For to monitor the temperatures at certain time for all the specimen prints, we would be needing
TMP36 sensor, 2X16 line display, buzzer, Arduino IDE 2.3.2 software. Software is made available
[Link] Arduino USB driver. Once the software and driver installed
successfully on the laptop, we can code the below in this application.
The code buzzer the sounds if the temperature of the chamber reaches 200°C, and displays the time in
seconds on an LCD.
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
// Pin Definitions
const int temperaturePin = A0; // Analog pin for temperature sensor
const int buzzerPin = 8; // Digital pin for buzzer
const int buttonPin = 7; // Digital pin for button (if needed for LCD reset or other functionality)
// Temperature variables
int baselineTemp = 0;
int celsius = 0;
int fahrenheit = 0;
// Timer variables
unsigned long startTime;
unsigned long currentTime;
void setup() {
pinMode(temperaturePin, INPUT);
pinMode(buzzerPin, OUTPUT);
[Link](16, 2); // Initialize the LCD
[Link](9600);
// Initialize timer
startTime = millis();
}
void loop() {
int sensorValue = analogRead(temperaturePin);
celsius = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, -40, 125);
fahrenheit = ((celsius * 9) / 5 + 32);
// Display on LCD
[Link]();
[Link](0, 0);
[Link]("Temp: ");
[Link](celsius);
[Link](" C");
[Link](0, 1);
[Link]("Time: ");
[Link](elapsedTime);
[Link](" sec");
Figure 13: Arduino UNO board with sensor connected with bread board and digital indicator and
buzzer
Figure 14: Arduino UNO board with sensor, cables, bread board, sensors, buzzer, and resistors
Table 8 Temperatures of each specimen (when 1500C) recorded w.r.t time in seconds
Specimen No. Temperature in degree Time in seconds
centigrade
S1 150 1801
S2 150 1790
S3 150 1805
S4 150 1795
S5 150 1802
S6 150 1799
S7 150 1802
S8 150 1810
S9 150 1800
4. Summary
The additive manufacturing, one of the most promising areas for cleaner and more resource-efficient
production is Selective Laser Melting and other similar technologies. The build speed is too low for AM
technologies to be used in production just now, thus they are mostly used for design and product
development. Therefore, improving the performance and build rate of the present process is essential for
the implementation of sustainable AM methods like SLM.
• This finding has important implications for the technology's potential industrial uses, particularly in
the realm of eco-designed goods, where extensive creative flexibility is essential. New
environmentally friendly components might be made possible in a number of sectors by combining
high power selective laser melting with the ubiquitous aluminum alloy AlSi10Mg and the process's
unfettered design flexibility.
• According to the study's findings, a 350 W laser may significantly boost the construction pace while
making AlSi10Mg components. We were able to achieve densities exceeding 99.5% despite
increasing the scanning velocity and scanline spacing with the greater laser power.
• At these process parameters—a laser power of 350 W, a scan speed of 1200 mm/s, and a hatching
distance of 160 µm—we were able to generate a component devoid of defects and distortion. The
mechanical characteristics measured at these parameters reveal an ultimate tensile strength of 340
MPa, yield strength of 130 MPa, elongation of 5.2%, and hardness of 128±5 HV (when applied to
1000 grams with a holding period of 10 seconds).
• Using an analysis of variance (ANOVA), we found that, among the experimental conditions, laser
power contributed 18.74%, scan speed 14.39%, and hatching distance 11.39%.
• The time interval variance in seconds, taken by all the specimens, when the build chamber’s
temperature 150th degree is proven to be another impacting factor for differing mechanical properties
of the alloy.
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