Determination of Process Parameters for Electron Beam Sintering (EBS)

Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) methods, like Electron Beam Sintering (EBS) constitute an interesting process concerning the production of small series and customised products. However, transient effects occur during processing due to the different physical principles of an electron beam (EB). Thus, process knowledge from similar ALM technologies, for instance Selective Laser Melting, can not be utilised in further developments of EBS. Therefore, a thermal process model including phase and density changes is being formulated and solved using COMSOL Multiphysics 3.4. As a result, the examination of the transient temperature distribution within the process domain leads to the determination of the main process parameters. Current process deficiencies may be eliminated and increasing process stability will be achieved.