Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) has experienced exponential growth in interest, and machine technology has improved in like manner. The industry is reaching ever-closer to the boundaries of what is technically possible with focused CW lasers using Gaussian beam shapes, but the technical challenges provided by key customers in the aerospace industry grow more difficult with every success. Much of the LPBF industry is unfamiliar with fs laser technology and how it could be used to augment LPBF processes. This talk details what work has already been done in this area, how fs lasers may be integrated into LPBF systems in the future, and assesses the improvements LPBF systems could see as short and ultrashort pulsed lasers are adopted in the future.
Keywords
- Laser Power Bed Fusion