Based on the Characteristics of the Transition Zone in SLM Multi-laser Metal Printing

During the laser cladding process, the concentrated loading of energy from the laser heat source and its rapid heating and cooling characteristics often lead to thermal stresses in the components, affecting their quality. This issue is exacerbated during multi-laser simultaneous printing due to the cumulative effect. To investigate which scanning paths and laser source parameters minimize the impact on the transition zone in multi-laser printing, a finite element simulation model of double-laser single-layer cladding was established using ANSYS software. By analyzing the temperature and stress fields generated and conducting range analysis on the data obtained from orthogonal experiments, it was determined that among the three selected paths, the sawtooth path resulted in smaller temperature and stress fields. Additionally, as laser power increased and scanning speed decreased, the generated stress correspondingly increased. Furthermore, a set of optimal factors was identified through orthogonal experiments and simulated to validate the correctness of the conclusions. This study provides guidance for optimizing process parameters to control residual stresses in multi-laser printing.