The Influence of Modes of Selective Laser Melting on the Features of Formation of Melt Pools and Defect Porosity of Lattice Structures of Medical-Purpose Ti–Zr–Nb Alloy

The effect of selective laser melting (SLM) modes on melt bath geometry and defect porosity of solid materials and lattice structures made of medical-grade Ti–Zr–Nb alloys was studied. Based on the analysis of melt bath geometry formed by single and multiple laser passes, an approach was developed to optimize SLM modes for producing porous materials based on lattice structures made of Ti–Zr–Nb alloys with thin (250–340 μm) structural elements and a low defect count. It was found that modes with reduced scanning speed (700–1000 mm/s) and laser power (45–60 W) ensure high geometric accuracy due to reduced melt bath size and low defect porosity (<0.75%).