An Experimental Investigation of the Shape Deviation of SLM Printed Parts

The 3D printing technology is increasingly used in manufacturing, medicine, education, and various other fields. This technology allows for the creation of parts with complex shapes, which would be difficult or even impossible to manufacture using traditional machining methods. However, the quality of the printed products is still a barrier to the widespread use of the 3D printing technology in industrial applications. The former includes the accuracy of the shape, size, and mechanical properties of the printed products. Research to improve the efficiency of the printing process and the printed product quality is essential for application fields. This study, through experiments, determines the relationship between the shape deviation of the printed products and the set of printing parameters. The latter includes the laser power, printing speed, and printing layer thickness. Experimental studies were conducted on the FF-M180D printer using the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) printing method. Ti6Al4V powder is utilized as printing material for this study. Based on the regression model showing the relationship between the printing parameters and shape deviation, the optimal set of parameters to minimize the shape deviation was determined.