An effective analytical model of selective laser melting

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a laser-based powder bed Additive Manufacturing process that can produce near net shape products with metallic powders according to Computer-Aided Design models. In this paper, a useful analytical model of SLM is proposed by investigating the energy requirement of the process. Results from the experiments on SLM of pure nickel and pure tin are reported. By compiling process parameter data from various literatures and experiments, this model has shown to enable predictions of the energy input required to process different metallic materials to an order of magnitude despite the many assumptions made. Possible explanations for the deviation in predictions and actual energy inputs are also discussed.