Beam shaping to tackle laser powder bed fusion challenges

Additive manufacturing (AM), a term synonymous with the future of fabrication, has revolutionized industries by offering unparalleled flexibility in design and production. At the heart of this transformative technology is laser-based powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M), the process with the highest geometrical resolution having the largest market share (86 %, Wohlers) amongst all AM processes. By selectively melting and fusing powder material layer by layer with a laser, PBF-LB/M enables the creation of complex and high-strength components, previously unthinkable with traditional subtractive manufacturing methods.