Effect of cleaning gas stream on products in selective laser melting

The cleaning gas stream in a selective laser melting process is a crucial factor that functions to remove condensate and prevent oxidation during fusing. This study investigated the ejected powder during processing and the effect of cleaning gas flow on product quality in term of porosity. Our results showed that the flow rate of cleaning gas significantly affected the homogeneity of properties of manufactured products. Following the cleaning gas direction, the properties of manufactured parts were changed. The product characteristics when positioned closer the inlet gas were favorable, while reduced product quality was observed at a greater distance from the inlet gas. The results can be applied to the selective laser melting process to predict and diagnose the quality of printed parts.