Methods To Improve The Environmental Control Chamber Subsystem Of Laser Powder Bed Fusion Machines For Manufacturing Aerospace Components

AM is a broad term that describes numerous processes for production by adding material to more material to create a solid design from diverse materials, including plastics, ceramics, and metals, typically, processes can be divided into seven process categories: Material Extrusion, Sheet Lamination, Vat Photopolymerization, Binder Jetting, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion, and Directed Energy Deposition [1]. These processes enable users to create a three-dimensional (3D) model using computer-aided design (CAD) software that is then transferred to slicing software, where a user configures the layer-by-layer deposition of material according to the geometry defined by a model [2]. Of these additive processes, laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) is one of the most advanced and thoroughly researched processes, mainly in the aerospace and biomedical industries [3]. PBF-LB/M can provide an alternative to developing integrated structural and material design tools for aircraft designs. Additionally, PBF-LB/M can utilize various materials in advanced aircraft designs to conserve energy and weight [4]. There is considerable research on printing materials, including aluminum alloys and copper. However, there are still knowledge gaps when it comes to printing with metals utilized in hypersonic aircraft designs.