Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Publication
    Laser Welding of SLM-Manufactured Tubes Made of IN625 and IN718
    ( 2019)
    Jokisch, Torsten
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    Marko, Angelina
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    Üstündag, Ömer
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    The advantage of selective laser melting (SLM) is its high accuracy and geometrical flexibility. Because the maximum size of the components is limited by the process chamber, possibilities must be found to combine several parts manufactured by SLM. An application where this is necessary, is, for example, the components of gas turbines, such as burners or oil return pipes, and inserts, which can be joined by circumferential welds. However, only a few investigations to date have been carried out for the welding of components produced by SLM. The object of this paper is, therefore, to investigate the feasibility of laser beam welding for joining SLM tube connections made of nickel-based alloys. For this purpose, SLM-manufactured Inconel 625 and Inconel 718 tubes were welded with a Yb:YAG disk laser and subsequently examined for residual stresses and defects. The results showed that the welds had no significant influence on the residual stresses. A good weld quality could be achieved in the seam circumference. However, pores and pore nests were found in the final overlap area, which meant that no continuous good welding quality could be accomplished. Pore formation was presumably caused by capillary instabilities when the laser power was ramped out.
  • Publication
    3D laser metal deposition: Process steps for additive manufacturing
    ( 2018)
    Graf, Benjamin
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    Marko, Angelina
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    Petrat, Torsten
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    Laser metal deposition (LMD) is an established technology for two-dimensional surface coatings. It offers high deposition rates, high material flexibility, and the possibility to deposit material on existing components. Due to these features, LMD has been increasingly applied for additive manufacturing of 3D structures in recent years. Compared to previous coating applications, additive manufacturing of 3D structures leads to new challenges regarding LMD process knowledge. In this paper, the process steps for LMD as additive manufacturing technology are described. The experiments are conducted using titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718. Only the LMD nozzle is used to create a shielding gas atmosphere. This ensures the high geometric flexibility needed for additive manufacturing, although issues with the restricted size and quality of the shielding gas atmosphere arise. In the first step, the influence of process parameters on the geometric dimensions of single weld beads is analyzed based on design of experiments. In the second step, a 3D build-up strategy for cylindrical specimen with high dimensional accuracy is described. Process parameters, travel paths, and cooling periods between layers are adjusted. Tensile tests show that mechanical properties in the as-deposited condition are close to wrought material. As practical example, the fir-tree root profile of a turbine blade is manufactured. The feasibility of LMD as additive technology is evaluated based on this component.
  • Publication
    3D laser metal deposition in an additive manufacturing process chain
    ( 2017)
    Graf, Benjamin
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    Laser metal deposition (LMD) is an established technology for two-dimensional surface coatings. It offers high deposition rates, high material flexibility and the possibility to deposit material on existing components. Due to these features, LMD has been increasingly applied for additive manufacturing of 3D structures in recent years. Compared to previous coating applications, additive manufacturing of 3D structures leads to new challenges regarding LMD process knowledge. In this paper, the process chain for LMD as additive manufacturing technology is described. The experiments are conducted using titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V and Inconel 718. Only the LMD nozzle is used to create a shielding gas atmosphere. This ensures high geometric flexibility, although issues with the restricted size and quality of the shielding gas atmosphere arise. In the first step, the influence of process parameters on the geometric dimensions of single weld beads is analysed based on design of experiments and statistical evaluation. The results allow adjusting the weld bead dimensions for the specific component geometry. In the second step, features of a 3D build-up strategy for high dimensional accuracy are discussed. For this purpose, cylindrical specimens consisting of more than 200 layers are built. Welding of multiple layers on top of each other leads to heat accumulation. Consequently, the molten pool is increased and weld bead height and width are changed. Furthermore, cooling times are prolonged. The build-up strategy has to be adjusted to deal with these issues. Process parameters, travel paths and cooling breaks between layers are varied. Temperatures during the deposition process are measured with pyrometer and thermography. The specimens are analysed with metallurgic cross sections, x-ray and tensile test. Tensile tests show that mechanical properties in the as-deposited condition are close to wrought material. The results are used to design guidelines for a LMD build-up strategy for complex components. As reality test, parts of a gas turbine burner and a turbine blade are manufactured according to these build-up strategies. Build-up rate, net-shape and microstructure of these demonstrative components are evaluated. This paper is relevant for industrial or scientific users of LMD, who are interested in the feasibility of this technology for additive manufacturing.
  • Publication
    Laser metal deposition as repair technology for a gas turbine burner made of Inconel 718
    ( 2016)
    Petrat, Torsten
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    Graf, Benjamin
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    Maintenance, repair and overhaul of components are of increasing interest for parts of high complexity and expensive manufacturing costs. In this paper a production process for laser metal deposition is presented, and used to repair a gas turbine burner of Inconel 718. Different parameters for defined track geometries were determined to attain a near net shape deposition with consistent build-up rate for changing wall thicknesses over the manufacturing process. Spot diameter, powder feed rate, welding velocity and laser power were changed as main parameters for a different track size. An optimal overlap rate for a constant layer height was used to calculate the best track size for a fitting layer width similar to the part dimension. Deviations in width and height over the whole build-up process were detected and customized build-up strategies for the 3D sequences were designed. The results show the possibility of a near net shape repair by using different track geometries with laser metal deposition.
  • Publication
    Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen zum additiven Aufbau komplexer Formen
    ( 2015)
    Petrat, Torsten
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    Graf, Benjamin
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    Das Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen als additives Fertigungsverfahren ermöglicht einen endformnahen Aufbau von Bauteilen. Ein Zielkonflikt besteht zwischen der Forderung nach hoher Aufbaurate und hoher Endformnähe, welcher von der Schweißraupengröße wesentlich beeinflusst wird. In dieser Veröffentlichung wird das Laser-Pulver-Auftragschweißen eingesetzt, um komplexe Formen additiv aufzubauen. Am Beispiel eines Tannenbaumprofiles werden unterschiedliche Einflussfaktoren dargestellt. Dazu gehören die Raupengeometrie, die Überlappung einzelner Raupen, die Verwendung unterschiedlicher Aufbaustrategien und die Teilung des Gesamtkörpers in Teilkörper. Der Zielkonflikt wird durch die Herstellung von Probekörpern mit unterschiedlichen Steigungswinkeln an den Seitenflächen verdeutlicht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine verbesserte Endformnähe in Bereichen flacher Steigung beim Einsatz kleiner Schweißraupen. Im Vergleich dazu erlauben die Schweißparameter der großen Raupen eine 5-fach höhere Aufbaurate. Bei einer Raupenüberlappung kleiner und großer Raupengeometrien innerhalb einer Lage treten Anbindungsfehler auf. Strategien zur Behebung dieses Fehlers durch Anpassung der Schweißreihenfolge werden in dieser Veröffentlichung aufgezeigt. Diese Erfahrungen werden genutzt, um einen Gesamtkörper aus Teilkörpern unterschiedlicher Raupengeometrien zu fertigen.