ABSTRACT
Laser-based additive manufacturing is a promising method to mitigate drawbacks encountered by conventional techniques. In addition, there are a number of energy sources including those based on electron beam, laser, and ultrasonic, for example. Among a variety of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, the laser power-bed fusion (LPBF) method generates cellular dislocation structure comprised of sub-grains in LPBF parts inducing enhanced properties. This structure is anchored in the columnar grains as various colonies with minor misorientation; for example, in the LPBF processed CuSn alloy, the role of cellular dislocation on the deformation twinning induced overall strengthening. The cellular dislocation structure contributed ~45% to the yield strength of the as-built parts, while the heat-treated parts were free from the cellular Sn segregation and δ-phase. This chapter reviews and addresses laser-based processing techniques and introduces the basic physical mechanisms in laser machining. Support technologies such as computer software post-manufacturing processes are covered. Additionally, surface improvement methods, and aesthetic and property enhancement techniques are highlighted.
