Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effect of Scan Length on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam-Melted Ti-6Al-4V

  • Published:
Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Electron beam melting (EBM) is a powder bed fusion-based additive manufacturing process in which selective areas of a layer of powder are melted with an electron beam and a part is built layer by layer. EBM scanning strategies within the Arcam AB® A2X EBM system rely upon governing relationships between the scan length of the beam path, the beam current, and speed. As a result, a large parameter process window exists for Ti-6Al-4V. Many studies have reviewed various properties of EBM materials without accounting for this effect. The work performed in this study demonstrates the relationship between scan length and the resulting density, microstructure, and mechanical properties of EBM-produced Ti-6Al-4V using the scanning strategies set by the EBM control software. This emphasizes the criticality of process knowledge and careful experimental design, and provides an alternate explanation for reported orientation-influenced strength differences.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ISO/ASTM Standard 52921, 2013, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2013.

  2. M. Svensson: Arcam AB, Molndal Sweden, unpublished research, 2011.

  3. M. Svensson: Arcam AB, Molndal Sweden, unpublished research, 2012.

  4. B.S. Bass: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, unpublished research 2008.

  5. H.K. Rafi, N.V. Karthik, T.L. Starr, and B.E. Stucker: Solid Freeform Fabr. Symp. Proc., 2012, vol. 22, pp. 526–35.

    Google Scholar 

  6. U. Ackelid and M. Svensson: Mater. Sci. Technol. Conf. Exhib., 2009, vol. 4, pp. 2711–19.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A.A. Antonysamy: University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, unpublished research, 2012.

  8. H. Suo, Z. Chen, J. Liu, S. Gong, and J. Xiao: Rare Metal Mater. Eng., 2014, vol. 43–4, pp. 780–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. S.S. Al-Bermani, M.L. Blackmore, W. Zhang, and I. Todd: Metall. Trans. A, 2010, vol. 41–13, pp. 3422–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. X. Tan, Y. Kok, Y.J. Tan, M. Descoins, D. Mangelinck, S.B. Tor, and C.K. Chua: Acta Mater., 2015, vol. 97, pp. 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. L. Murr, S. Gaytan, F. Medina, E. Martinez, D. Hernandez, L. Martinez, M. Lopez, R. Wicker, S. Collins, and Arcam A.B.: Solid Freeform Fabr. Symp. Proc., 2009, vol. 20, pp. 3–5.

    Google Scholar 

  12. N. Hrabe and T. Quinn: Mater. Sci. Eng., A, 2013, vol. 573, pp. 264–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. N. Hrabe and T. Quinn: Mater. Sci. Eng., A, 2013, vol. 573, pp. 271–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. L. Ladani: Metall. Trans. A, 2015, vol. 46–9, 3835–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. W. Everhart, E. Sawyer, T. Neidt, J. Dinardo, and B. Brown: J. Mater. Sci., 2016, vol. 51, pp. 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. ASTM Standard E8, 2015, “Standard Test Methods for Tension Testing of Metallic Materials,” ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, doi: 10.1520/E0008-15A, www.astm.org.

  17. ASTM Standard E4, 2014, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, doi: 10.1520/E0004-14, www.astm.org.

  18. ASTM Standard E83, 2010, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, doi: 10.1520/E0083-10A, www.astm.org.

  19. ASTM Standard B962, 2015, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA, 2015, doi: 10.1520/B0962-15, www.astm.org.

  20. J.R. Davis, P. Allen, S. Lampman, T.B. Zorc, S.D. Henry, J.L. Daquila, and A.W. Ronke (Eds.): Properties and Selection: Nonferrous Alloys and Special-Purpose Materials, 10th ed., ASM International, Conshohocken, PA, 1990, vol. 2, pp. 592–633.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The Authors would like to acknowledge the assistance provided for this research by AM equipment technician Justin Tannehill, microscopists Wayne McLarren and Diana Goedecke, and tensile testing personnel Ed Wenski, Bill Lepley, and Jason Rogers. All data prepared, analyzed, and presented have been developed in a specific context of work and were prepared for internal evaluation and use pursuant to that work authorized under the referenced contract. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government, any agency thereof or Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC. This presentation has been authored by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies under Contract No. DE-NA0002839 with the U.S. Department of Energy. The United States Government retains, and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a nonexclusive, paid up, irrevocable, world-wide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for the United States Government purposes.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Honeywell FMT, Kansas City National Security Campus, Kansas City, MO, 64147, USA

    Wesley Everhart, Joseph Dinardo & Christian Barr

Authors
  1. Wesley Everhart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph Dinardo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christian Barr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wesley Everhart.

Additional information

Manuscript submitted May 10, 2016.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Everhart, W., Dinardo, J. & Barr, C. The Effect of Scan Length on the Structure and Mechanical Properties of Electron Beam-Melted Ti-6Al-4V. Metall Mater Trans A 48, 697–705 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-016-3866-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11661-016-3866-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation