Additive Manufacturing - Enhancing Build Resolution and Expanding Build Sizes with G Code Programmable Laser Heated Variable 150kV Electron Beam Gun
(Room Room 104-B)
02 May 19
5:20 PM
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5:40 PM
Tracks:
High-Powered Electron Beam Technology
To improve the build resolution of electron beam additive manufacturing, high energy electron beam gun technology with a variable acceleration voltage of up to 150kV show promising results. Refining the precision will not only require smaller beam spot sizes, but demand augmenting beam focusing and beam deflection systems. Expanding the build sizes requires to position the electron beam over larger surface areas. The deflection system must accommodate either larger deflection angles of the beam or the beam working distance must be increased. Current work show that parameter optimization of deflection angle and working distance for high energy guns require to develop a balance between the settings. Increasing the deflection distance of the electron beam requires a new concept for aligning the beam axis with additional machine related axis. The alignment of the beam can be achieved by a mechanical process or an electronic correction algorithm. Both concepts have advantages and disadvantages when high deflection frequencies are used and therefore a compromise may be the solution. The electron beam is controlled by open source G-code programming and a short overview will be given on how to transfer CAD data to G-code and to beam parameters based on trajectories and material-process data.