• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.210-215
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• 2017

In this study, STS316L powders prepared by gas atomization are used to manufacture bulk structures with dimensions of $10{\times}10{\times}10mm^3$ using selective laser melting (SLM). The microstructures and hardness of the fabricated 316L stainless steel has been investigated with the laser beam overlap varied from 10% to 70%. The microstructures of the fabricated STS316L samples show a decrease in the balling and satellite of powders introducing defect in the bulk samples and the porosity caused by the gap between the molten metal pools disappearing as the overlap ratio increases, whereas a low overlap ratio results in significant balling and a large amount of isolated powders due to the increased gap between the melt pools. Furthermore, the highest value in Vickers hardness is obtained for the sample fabricated by 30% overlapped laser beams. These results show that the overlap ratio of laser beams in the SLM process should be considered as an important process parameter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.42-51
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• 2021

Investigations of process parameters are essential when fabricating high-quality parts using additive manufacturing. This study investigates the change in the mechanical characteristics of a SUS316L specimen fabricated using selective laser melting based on the energy density and bead overlap ratio. The SUS316L powder particles were spherical and 35 ㎛ in size. Single-bead and hexahedral shape deposition experiments were performed sequentially. A single bead experiment was performed to obtain the bead overlap ratios for different laser parameters utilizing laser power and scan speed as experimental parameters. A hexahedral shape deposition experiment was also performed to observe the difference in mechanical properties, such as the internal porosity, surface roughness, and hardness, based on the energy density and bead overlap ratio of the three-dimensional printed part. Laser power, scan speed, overlap ratio, and layer thickness were chosen as parameters for the hexahedral shape deposition experiment. Accordingly, the energy density applied for three-dimensional printing, and the experimental parameters were calculated, and the energy density and bead overlap ratio for fabricating parts with good properties have been suggested.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.54-58
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• 2016

Laser-doped selective emitter process requires dopant source deposition, spin-on-glass, and is able to form selective emitter through SiNx layer by laser irradiation on desired locations. However, after laser doping process, the remaining dopant layer needs to be washed out. Laser-induced melting of pre-deposited impurity doping is a precise selective doping method minimizing addition of process steps. In this study, we introduce a novel scheme for fabricating highly efficient selective emitter solar cell by laser doping. During this process, laser induced damage induces front contact destabilization due to the hindrance of silver nucleation even though laser doping has a potential of commercialization with simple process concept. When the laser induced damage is effectively removed using solution etch back process, the disadvantage of laser doping was effectively removed. The devices fabricated using laser doping scheme power conversion efficiency was significantly improved about 1% abs. after removal the laser damages.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2020

In this study, the effects of ultrasonic nanocrystal surface modification (UNSM) treatment at room and high temperatures (RT and HT of 400℃) on friction and wear behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy prepared by selective laser melting (SLM) were investigated. The objective of this study is to improve the mechanical properties and frictional behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy by UNSM treatment. Dry friction and wear tests were conducted using a ball-on-disk method at RT with a bearing steel as the counter ball. Due to the high HT and UNSM treatment, the surface hardness tended to increase and surface roughness tended to reduce. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that nanocrystallization structure and compressive residual stress were formed at the surface layer after UNSM treatment at both RT and HT. After UNSM treatment, it was observed that the wear rate was reduced by about 6% for the specimen treated at RT and a 28% reduction for the specimen treated at HT in comparison with the untreated one. Based on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the damage caused by fatigue wear occurred in the wear track of the heat-treated specimen, and it is believed to be the cause of the highest wear rate. Mechanical properties and wear resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy were improved and prospect of industrial application was confirmed. Further research is still required to improve the characteristics of SLM Ti-6Al-4V alloy to the level of wrought Ti-6Al-4V alloy.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.333-342
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• 2021

PURPOSE. To evaluate the impact of five different tooth preparation designs on the marginal and internal fit discrepancies of cobalt-chromium (CoCr) crowns produced by computer-aided designing (CAD) and selective laser melting (SLM) processes. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Five preparation data were constructed, after which design crowns were obtained. Actual crowns were fabricated using an SLM process. After the data of actual crowns were obtained with structural light scanning, intaglio surfaces of the design crown and actual crown were virtually superimposed on the preparation. The fit-discrepancies were displayed with colors, while the root means square was calculated and analyzed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test or Kruskal-Wallis test (α = .05). RESULTS. The marginal or internal color-coded images in the five design groups were not identical. The shoulder-lip and sharp line angle groups in the CAD or SLM process had larger marginal or internal fit discrepancies compared to other groups (P < .05). In the CAD process, the mean marginal and internal fit discrepancies were 10.0 to 24.2 ㎛ and 29.6 to 31.4 ㎛, respectively. After the CAD and SLM processes, the mean marginal and internal fit discrepancies were 18.4 to 40.9 ㎛ and 39.1 to 47.1 ㎛, respectively. The SLM process itself resulted in a positive increase of the marginal (6.0 - 16.7 ㎛) and internal (9.0 - 15.7 ㎛) fit discrepancies. CONCLUSION. The CAD and SLM processes affected the fit of CoCr crowns and varied based on the preparation designs. Typically, the shoulder-lip and sharp line angle designs had a more significant effect on crown fit. However, the differences between the design groups were relatively small, especially when compared to fit discrepancies observed clinically.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the marginal and internal fit of metal coping fabricated by a metal three-dimensional (3D) printer that uses selective laser melting (SLM). Methods: An extraoral scanner was used to scan a die of the prepared maxillary right first molar, and the coping was designed using computer-aided design software and saved as an stereo lithography (STL) file. Ten specimens were printed with an SLM-type metal 3D printer (SLM group), and 10 more specimens were fabricated by casting the castable patterns output generated by a digital light processing-type resin 3D printer (casting the 3D printed resin patterns [CRP] group). The fit was measured using the silicon replica technique, and 8 points (A to H) were set per specimen to measure the marginal (points A, H) and internal (points B~G) gaps. The differences among the groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test (α=0.05). Results: The mean of marginal fit in the SLM group was 69.67±18.04 ㎛, while in the CRP group was 117.10±41.95 ㎛. The internal fit of the SLM group was 95.18±41.20 ㎛, and that of the CRP group was 86.35±32 ㎛. As a result of statistical analysis, there was a significant difference in marginal fit between the SLM and CRP groups (p<0.05); however, there was no significant difference in internal fit between the SLM group and the CRP group (p>0.05). Conclusion: The marginal and internal fit of SLM is within the clinically acceptable range, and it seems to be applicable in terms of fit.

• Journal of Technologic Dentistry
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.67-73
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• 2023

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the clinical acceptability of precision of fit of the support thickness of Co-Cr alloy copings fabricated using selective laser melting (SLM). Methods: Thirty dental stone models of maxillary left molar abutments were manufactured, images were taken using a scanner, and a computer-aided design program was used to design the form of a conventional metal ceramic crown coping. Overall, 30 single copings were made from Co-Cr alloy using SLM and divided into three support radius groups (0.1, 0.25, and 0.35 mm) of 10 for each. Digitized data were superimposed with three-dimensional inspection software to quantitatively obtain the machinability of a ceramic crown coping, and visual differences were confirmed using a color map. The root mean square values of the ceramic crown coping group were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (α=0.05). Results: The precision of fit was superior with 0.25 mm compared with 0.1 mm and 0.35 mm, and the results exhibited significant differences (p<0.05). All specimens showed that various support thicknesses did not exceed the clinically permitted value of 120 ㎛, which mean that more than 0.1 mm and 0.35 mm of support radius for SLM was adequate. Conclusion: The support thickness of Co-Cr alloy restoration fabricated using SLM is shown to affect the adaptation.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.115-119
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• 2020

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology is state-of-the-art additive manufacturing process technology that produces a three-dimensional structure by irradiating a laser on a fine metal powder to perform the fusion of a specific area and repeat this process. Owing to the characteristics of the additive manufacturing process, the melting phenomenon of the metal material by the laser has directionality depending on the process conditions, such as the irradiation direction of the laser and the build-up direction. For this reason, the composition of the metal material in the structure exhibits non-uniform characteristics. In this study, aluminum (AlSi10Mg) specimens were manufactured by applying SLM technology, and the material composition characteristics of the specimen were analyzed. The specimens were manufactured as cylinders by the build-up orientation of 0°, 45°, and 90°. The surface morphology of the specimen plane was analyzed optically. TEM analysis was performed on the core and the interface of the melting-pool inside the specimen generated by laser irradiation. The analysis results confirmed that there was a difference between the nano cell structure of the core and the interface of the melting-pool, and that the composition ratio of Si appeared higher at the interface than at the core of the cell.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1995.10a
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• pp.204-209
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• 1995

The implementation of rapid prototyping technologies has been developed for automotive engineering by utilizing concurrent engineering principes integrated with slective laser sintering. The Selective Laser Sintering, in which a part is generated in layers form powder using a computer-controlled laser scanning apparatus and power feed system. An over view of the basic principles of SLS Machine operation is given. Binding mechanisms are described for power which becomes thermally activated bye the scanning laser beam; viscous flow and melting of a low-melting-point phase in powder. The production of parts from metal is described, including post processing to improve structural integrity and induce a transformation.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Heat Treatment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.99-106
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• 2020

Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing process by melting metallic powders and stacking into layers, and can product complex shapes or near-net-shape (NNS) that are difficult to product by conventional processes. Also, SLM process is able to raise the efficiency of production by creating a streamlined manufacturing process. For manufacturing in SLM process using Ti-6Al-4V powder, analysis of microstructural evolution and evaluation of mechanical properties are essential because of rapid melting and solidification process of powders according to high laser power and rapid scan speed. In addition, it requires a post-processing because the soundness and mechanical properties are degraded by defects such as pore, un-melted powder, lack-of-fusion, etc. In this study, hot isostatic press (HIP) was conducted as a post-processing on SLM-printed Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Microstructure of post-processed Ti-6Al-4V alloy was compared to as-built Ti-6Al-4V, and the evolution of quasi-static (Vickers hardness, room temperature tensile characteristic) and dynamic (high-cycle fatigue characteristic) mechanical properties were analyzed.