Laser Additive Manufacturing: Design, Materials, Processes and Applications

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "D3: 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2022) | Viewed by 50307

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Professor in Gemological Institute, Advanced Manufacturing Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: additive manufacturing; laser advanced manufacturing; laser-matter interaction; numerical simulation; in situ characterization; microstructures; mechanical properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China
Interests: additive manufacturing; selective laser melting; crystal plasticity finite element; dynamic mechanical properties; titanium alloy; metal matrix composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Photonics Laboratory, Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
Interests: micro/nano photonic devices; additive manufacturing; three-dimensional micro optical fabrication; nonlinear optics; optical communication
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Laser-based additive manufacturing (AM) is a revolutionary advanced digital manufacturing technology developed in recent decades, which is also a key strategic technology for technological innovation and industrial sustainability. This technology unlocks the design and constraints of traditional manufacturing and meets the needs of the complex geometry fabrication and high-performance part fabrication. A deeper understanding of the design, materials, processes, structures, properties, and applications are desirable to produce novel functional devices, as well as defect-free structurally sound and reliable AM parts.

This Special Issue of Micromachines entitled “Laser Additive Manufacturing: Design, Materials, Processes and Applications” aims to cover all the possible topics involved from macro- to micro-scale additive manufacturing with lasers, including structure design, fabrication, modeling and simulation, in situ characterization of additive manufacturing processes, and ex situ material characterization and performance, with an overview that covers various applications in aerospace, biomedicine, optics, and energy.

It is our pleasure to invite you to contribute original articles, comprehensive reviews, and letters/opinions to this Special Issue.

Dr. Jie Yin
Dr. Yang Liu
Dr. Ping Zhao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • additive manufacturing
  • 3D printing
  • laser powder bed fusion
  • laser-directed energy deposition
  • laser advanced manufacturing
  • design and modeling
  • materials
  • processes
  • characterization
  • mechanical and functional properties
  • applications

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Related Special Issues

Published Papers (17 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 194 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial for the Special Issue on Laser Additive Manufacturing: Design, Processes, Materials and Applications
by Jie Yin, Yang Liu and Ping Zhao
Micromachines 2022, 13(12), 2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13122057 - 24 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1204
Abstract
Laser-based additive manufacturing (LAM) is a revolutionary advanced digital manufacturing technology developed in recent decades, which is also a key strategic technology for technological innovation and industrial sustainability [...] Full article

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

12 pages, 4382 KiB  
Article
Microstructure Transformation in Laser Additive Manufactured NiTi Alloy with Quasi-In-Situ Compression
by Xiao Yang, Shuo Wang, Hengpei Pan, Congyi Zhang, Jieming Chen, Xinyao Zhang and Lingqing Gao
Micromachines 2022, 13(10), 1642; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13101642 - 30 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1669
Abstract
For NiTi alloys, different additive manufacturing processes may have different compressive recovery capabilities. In particular, there are relatively few studies on the compressive recovery ability of NiTi alloys by the laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) process. In this paper, the compression recovery properties of [...] Read more.
For NiTi alloys, different additive manufacturing processes may have different compressive recovery capabilities. In particular, there are relatively few studies on the compressive recovery ability of NiTi alloys by the laser-directed energy deposition (LDED) process. In this paper, the compression recovery properties of NiTi alloys with the LDED process were investigated quasi-in-situ by means of transmission electron microscopy, an electron backscatter diffractometer, and focused ion beam–fixed-point sample preparation. The results showed that the material can be completely recovered under 4% deformation and the B19’ martensite phase content and dislocation density are basically unchanged. However, the recovery rate was only 90% and the unrecoverable strain was 0.86% at 8% deformation. Meanwhile, the B19’ martensite phase content and dislocation density of the material increased. Furthermore, with the increase in deformation, the relative dislocation pinning effect of the Ti2Ni precipitated phase in the alloy was enhanced, which reduced the compressive strain recovery to a certain extent. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 12681 KiB  
Article
Laser Additive Manufacturing of Anti-Tetrachiral Endovascular Stents with Negative Poisson’s Ratio and Favorable Cytocompatibility
by Ke Chen, Haoran Wan, Xiang Fang and Hongyu Chen
Micromachines 2022, 13(7), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13071135 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2285
Abstract
Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) of complex-shaped metallic components offers great potential for fabricating customized endovascular stents. In this study, anti-tetrachiral auxetic stents with negative Poisson ratios (NPR) were designed and fabricated via LAM. Poisson’s ratios of models with different diameters of circular node [...] Read more.
Laser additive manufacturing (LAM) of complex-shaped metallic components offers great potential for fabricating customized endovascular stents. In this study, anti-tetrachiral auxetic stents with negative Poisson ratios (NPR) were designed and fabricated via LAM. Poisson’s ratios of models with different diameters of circular node (DCN) were calculated using finite element analysis (FEA). The experimental method was conducted with the LAM-fabricated anti-tetrachiral stents to validate their NPR effect and the simulation results. The results show that, with the increase in DCN from 0.6 to 1.5 mm, the Poisson ratios of anti-tetrachiral stents varied from −1.03 to −1.12, which is in line with the simulation results. The interrelationship between structural parameters of anti-tetrachiral stents, their mechanical properties and biocompatibility was demonstrated. The anti-tetrachiral stents with a DCN of 0.9 mm showed the highest absolute value of negative Poisson’s ratio, combined with good cytocompatibility. The cytocompatibility tests indicate the envisaged cell viability and adhesion of the vascular endothelial cell on the LAM-fabricated anti-tetrachiral auxetic stents. The manufactured stents exhibit great superiority in the application of endovascular stent implantation due to their high flexibility for easy maneuverability during deployment and enough strength for arterial support. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 6329 KiB  
Article
Femtosecond Laser Treatment for Improving the Corrosion Resistance of Selective Laser Melted 17-4PH Stainless Steel
by Lingjian Meng, Jiazhao Long, Huan Yang, Wenjing Shen, Chunbo Li, Can Yang, Meng Wang and Jiaming Li
Micromachines 2022, 13(7), 1089; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13071089 - 9 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2328
Abstract
Currently, laser surface treatment (LST) is considered the most promising method available within the industry. It delivers precise control over surface topography, morphology, wettability, and chemistry, making the technique suitable for regulating the corrosion behavior of alloys. In this paper, femtosecond laser texturing [...] Read more.
Currently, laser surface treatment (LST) is considered the most promising method available within the industry. It delivers precise control over surface topography, morphology, wettability, and chemistry, making the technique suitable for regulating the corrosion behavior of alloys. In this paper, femtosecond laser texturing with different parameters and atmosphere environments was adopted to clarify the effect of surface treatment on the corrosion resistance of selective laser melted (SLM-ed) 17-4PH stainless steel (SS) in a NaCl solution. The experimental results show that, after the heat treatment, the corrosion resistance of the laser-treated samples was enhanced. With the further laser treatment in an argon atmosphere, the oxidation of nanostructural surfaces was avoided. The Cr, Cu, and other alloying elements precipitated on the laser-ablated surface were beneficial to the formation of a passivation film, leading to an improved corrosion resistance performance. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 7124 KiB  
Article
Strain Rate Dependence of Compressive Mechanical Properties of Polyamide and Its Composite Fabricated Using Selective Laser Sintering under Saturated-Water Conditions
by Xiaodong Zheng, Jiahuan Meng and Yang Liu
Micromachines 2022, 13(7), 1041; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13071041 - 30 Jun 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1878
Abstract
In this work, polyamide 12 (PA12) and carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 12 (CF/PA12) composites were fabricated using selective laser sintering (SLS), and the coupling effects of the strain rate and hygroscopicity on the compressive mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the [...] Read more.
In this work, polyamide 12 (PA12) and carbon fiber reinforced polyamide 12 (CF/PA12) composites were fabricated using selective laser sintering (SLS), and the coupling effects of the strain rate and hygroscopicity on the compressive mechanical properties were investigated. The results showed that the CF/PA12 had a shorter saturation time and lower saturated water absorption under the same conditions, indicating that the SLS of CF/PA12 had lower hydrophilia and higher water resistance when compared to the SLS of PA12. It was observed that as the strain rate increased, and the ultimate compression strength and the yield strength monotonically increased with almost the same slope, indicating that the strain rate had the same positive correlation with the compressive strength of the SLS of PA12 and CF/PA12. The water immersion results showed a significant reduction of 15% in the yield strength of SLS of PA12, but not very significant in CF/PA12. This indicated that the carbon fiber was favorable for maintaining the mechanical properties of polyamide 12 after absorbing water. The findings in this work provide a basic knowledge of the mechanical properties of SLS polyamide under different loading and saturated-water conditions and thus is helpful to widen the application of SLS products in harsh environments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3491 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Titanium and Copper-Coated Diamond/Copper Composites via Selective Laser Melting
by Lu Zhang, Yan Li, Simeng Li, Ping Gong, Qiaoyu Chen, Haoze Geng, Minxi Sun, Qinglei Sun and Liang Hao
Micromachines 2022, 13(5), 724; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13050724 - 30 Apr 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
The poor wettability and weak interfacial bonding of diamond/copper composites are due to the incompatibility between diamond and copper which are inorganic nonmetallic and metallic material, respectively, which limit their further application in next-generation heat management materials. Coating copper and titanium on the [...] Read more.
The poor wettability and weak interfacial bonding of diamond/copper composites are due to the incompatibility between diamond and copper which are inorganic nonmetallic and metallic material, respectively, which limit their further application in next-generation heat management materials. Coating copper and titanium on the diamond particle surface could effectively modify and improve the wettability of the diamond/copper interface via electroless plating and evaporation methods, respectively. Here, these dense and complex composites were successfully three-dimensionally printed via selective laser melting. A high thermal conductivity (TC, 336 W/mK) was produced by 3D printing 1 vol.% copper-coated diamond/copper mixed powders at an energy density of 300 J/mm3 (laser power = 180 W and scanning rate = 200 mm/s). 1 and 3 vol.% copper-coated diamond/copper composites had lower coefficients of thermal expansions and higher TCs. They also had stronger bending strengths than the corresponding titanium-coated diamond/copper composites. The interface between copper matrix and diamond reinforcement was well bonded, and there was no cracking in the 1 vol.% copper-coated diamond/copper composite sample. The optimization of the printing parameters and strategy herein is beneficial to develop new approaches for the further construction of a wider range of micro-sized diamond particles reinforced metal matrix composites. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 4156 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Iron Based Biocomposites Prepared by Laser Additive Manufacturing
by Yan Zhou, Lifeng Xu, Youwen Yang, Jingwen Wang, Dongsheng Wang and Lida Shen
Micromachines 2022, 13(5), 712; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13050712 - 30 Apr 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1900
Abstract
Iron (Fe) has attracted great attention as bone repair material owing to its favorable biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, it degrades too slowly since the corrosion product layer prohibits the contact between the Fe matrix and body fluid. In this work, zinc sulfide [...] Read more.
Iron (Fe) has attracted great attention as bone repair material owing to its favorable biocompatibility and mechanical properties. However, it degrades too slowly since the corrosion product layer prohibits the contact between the Fe matrix and body fluid. In this work, zinc sulfide (ZnS) was introduced into Fe bone implant manufactured using laser additive manufacturing technique. The incorporated ZnS underwent a disproportionation reaction and formed S-containing species, which was able to change the film properties including the semiconductivity, doping concentration, and film dissolution. As a result, it promoted the collapse of the passive film and accelerated the degradation rate of Fe matrix. Immersion tests proved that the Fe matrix experienced severe pitting corrosion with heavy corrosion product. Besides, the in vitro cell testing showed that Fe/ZnS possessed acceptable cell viabilities. This work indicated that Fe/ZnS biocomposite acted as a promising candidate for bone repair material. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 6431 KiB  
Article
Microstructure and Wear of W-Particle-Reinforced Al Alloys Prepared by Laser Melt Injection
by Zhidong Xu, Dengzhi Wang, Wenji Song, Congwen Tang, Pengfei Sun, Jiaxing Yang, Qianwu Hu and Xiaoyan Zeng
Micromachines 2022, 13(5), 699; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13050699 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1783
Abstract
W-particle-reinforced Al alloys were prepared on a 7075 aluminum alloy surface via laser melt injection to improve their wear resistance, and the microstructure, microhardness, and wear resistance of the W/Al layers were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed that a W/Al laser [...] Read more.
W-particle-reinforced Al alloys were prepared on a 7075 aluminum alloy surface via laser melt injection to improve their wear resistance, and the microstructure, microhardness, and wear resistance of the W/Al layers were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results confirmed that a W/Al laser melting layer of about 1.5 mm thickness contained W particles, and Al4W was formed on the surface of the Al alloys. Due to the reinforcement of the W particles and good bonding of the W and Al matrix, the melting layer showed excellent wear resistance compared to that of Al alloys. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 54032 KiB  
Article
Study on Interfacial Bonding Properties of NiTi/CuSn10 Dissimilar Materials by Selective Laser Melting
by Changhui Song, Zehua Hu, Yunmian Xiao, Yang Li and Yongqiang Yang
Micromachines 2022, 13(4), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13040494 - 22 Mar 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2514
Abstract
The dissimilar materials bonding of NiTi alloy with shape memory effect (SME) and CuSn10 alloy with good ductility, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity can be used in aerospace, circuits, etc. In order to integrate NiTi and CuSn10 with greatly different physical and chemical [...] Read more.
The dissimilar materials bonding of NiTi alloy with shape memory effect (SME) and CuSn10 alloy with good ductility, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity can be used in aerospace, circuits, etc. In order to integrate NiTi and CuSn10 with greatly different physical and chemical properties by selective laser melting (SLM), the effects of forming interlayers with different SLM process parameters were explored in this study. The defects, microstructure, and component diffusion at the interface were also analyzed. Columnar grain was found along the molten pool boundary of the interfacial region, and grains in the interfacial region were refined. Elements in the interfacial region had a good diffusion. Phase identifying of the interface showed that Ni4Ti3 was generated. The analysis showed that the columnar grain, refined grains in the interfacial region, and a certain amount of Ni4Ti3 could strengthen the interfacial bonding. This study provides a theoretical basis for forming NiTi/CuSn10 dissimilar materials structural members. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 5643 KiB  
Article
Effect of Porosity on Dynamic Response of Additive Manufacturing Ti-6Al-4V Alloys
by Yihang Cui, Jiacheng Cai, Zhiguo Li, Zhenyu Jiao, Ling Hu and Jianbo Hu
Micromachines 2022, 13(3), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13030408 - 4 Mar 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2720
Abstract
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly developing manufacturing technology of great potential for applications. One of the merits of AM is that the microstructure of manufactured materials can be actively controlled to meet engineering requirements. In this work, three types of Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) materials [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing is a rapidly developing manufacturing technology of great potential for applications. One of the merits of AM is that the microstructure of manufactured materials can be actively controlled to meet engineering requirements. In this work, three types of Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) materials with different porosities are manufactured using selective laser melting using different printing parameters. Their dynamic behaviors are then studied by planar impact experiments based on the free-surface velocity measurements and shock-recovery characterizations. Experimental results indicate that the porosity significantly affects their dynamic response, including not only the yield, but also spall behaviors. With the increasing porosity, the Hugoniot elastic limit and spall strength decrease monotonically. In the case of TC4 of a large porosity, it behaves similar to energy-absorbing materials, in which the voids collapse under shock compression and then the spallation takes place. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4418 KiB  
Article
Hybrid Dissection for Neutron Tube Shell via Continuous-Wave Laser and Ultra-Short Pulse Laser
by Minqiang Kang, Yongfa Qiang, Canlin Zhu, Xiangjun Xiang, Dandan Zhou, Zhitao Peng, Xudong Xie and Qihua Zhu
Micromachines 2022, 13(3), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13030352 - 23 Feb 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1774
Abstract
The sealed neutron tube shell dissection process utilizing the traditional lathe turning method suffers from low efficiency and high cost due to the frequency of replacement of the diamond knife. In this study, a hybrid dissection method is introduced by combining the continuous-wave [...] Read more.
The sealed neutron tube shell dissection process utilizing the traditional lathe turning method suffers from low efficiency and high cost due to the frequency of replacement of the diamond knife. In this study, a hybrid dissection method is introduced by combining the continuous-wave (CW) laser for efficient tangential groove production with an ultra-short pulse laser for delamination scanning removal. In this method, a high-power CW laser is firstly employed to make a tapered groove on the shell’s surface, and then a femtosecond pulse laser is used to micromachine the groove in order to obtain a cutting kerf. The thermal field was theoretically investigated in a finite element model. The simulation results show that the width of the area of temperature exceeding 100 °C is 1.9 mm and 0.4 mm with rotating speeds of 20 rad/s and 60 rad/s, respectively. In addition, a 2 mm deep slot in the 25 mm diameter tube was successfully produced in 1 min by a kilowatt fiber laser, and a 500-femtosecond pulse laser was employed to cut a plate with a material removal rate of 0.2 mm3/min. By using the hybrid method, the cutting efficiency was improved about 49 times compared to the femtosecond laser cutting. According to the simulation and experimental results, this method provides a high-efficiency and non-thermal cutting technique for reclaimed metallic neutron tube shells with millimeter-level thick walls, which has the advantages of non-contact, minimal thermal diffusion, and no effect of molten slag. It is indicated that the hybrid dissection method not only offers a new solution for thick neutron tube shell cutting but also extends the application of laser cutting techniques. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 8744 KiB  
Article
Densification, Tailored Microstructure, and Mechanical Properties of Selective Laser Melted Ti–6Al–4V Alloy via Annealing Heat Treatment
by Di Wang, Han Wang, Xiaojun Chen, Yang Liu, Dong Lu, Xinyu Liu and Changjun Han
Micromachines 2022, 13(2), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13020331 - 19 Feb 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3149
Abstract
This work investigated the influence of process parameters on the densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy printed by selective laser melting (SLM), followed by annealing heat treatment. In particular, the evolution mechanisms of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the [...] Read more.
This work investigated the influence of process parameters on the densification, microstructure, and mechanical properties of a Ti–6Al–4V alloy printed by selective laser melting (SLM), followed by annealing heat treatment. In particular, the evolution mechanisms of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the printed alloy with respect to the annealing temperature near the β phase transition temperature were investigated. The process parameter optimization of SLM can lead to the densification of the printed Ti–6Al–4V alloy with a relative density of 99.51%, accompanied by an ultimate tensile strength of 1204 MPa and elongation of 7.8%. The results show that the microstructure can be tailored by altering the scanning speed and annealing temperature. The SLM-printed Ti–6Al–4V alloy contains epitaxial growth β columnar grains and internal acicular martensitic α′ grains, and the width of the β columnar grain decreases with an increase in the scanning speed. Comparatively, the printed alloy after annealing in the range of 750–1050 °C obtains the microstructure consisting of α + β dual phases. In particular, network and Widmanstätten structures are formed at the annealing temperatures of 850 °C and 1050 °C, respectively. The maximum elongation of 14% can be achieved at the annealing temperature of 950 °C, which was 79% higher than that of as-printed samples. Meanwhile, an ultimate tensile strength larger than 1000 MPa can be maintained, which still meets the application requirements of the forged Ti–6Al–4V alloy. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2285 KiB  
Article
Four-Dimensional Stimuli-Responsive Hydrogels Micro-Structured via Femtosecond Laser Additive Manufacturing
by Yufeng Tao, Chengchangfeng Lu, Chunsan Deng, Jing Long, Yunpeng Ren, Zijie Dai, Zhaopeng Tong, Xuejiao Wang, Shuai Meng, Wenguang Zhang, Yinuo Xu and Linlin Zhou
Micromachines 2022, 13(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13010032 - 27 Dec 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3626
Abstract
Rapid fabricating and harnessing stimuli-responsive behaviors of microscale bio-compatible hydrogels are of great interest to the emerging micro-mechanics, drug delivery, artificial scaffolds, nano-robotics, and lab chips. Herein, we demonstrate a novel femtosecond laser additive manufacturing process with smart materials for soft interactive hydrogel [...] Read more.
Rapid fabricating and harnessing stimuli-responsive behaviors of microscale bio-compatible hydrogels are of great interest to the emerging micro-mechanics, drug delivery, artificial scaffolds, nano-robotics, and lab chips. Herein, we demonstrate a novel femtosecond laser additive manufacturing process with smart materials for soft interactive hydrogel micro-machines. Bio-compatible hyaluronic acid methacryloyl was polymerized with hydrophilic diacrylate into an absorbent hydrogel matrix under a tight topological control through a 532 nm green femtosecond laser beam. The proposed hetero-scanning strategy modifies the hierarchical polymeric degrees inside the hydrogel matrix, leading to a controllable surface tension mismatch. Strikingly, these programmable stimuli-responsive matrices mechanized hydrogels into robotic applications at the micro/nanoscale (<300 × 300 × 100 μm3). Reverse high-freedom shape mutations of diversified microstructures were created from simple initial shapes and identified without evident fatigue. We further confirmed the biocompatibility, cell adhesion, and tunable mechanics of the as-prepared hydrogels. Benefiting from the high-efficiency two-photon polymerization (TPP), nanometer feature size (<200 nm), and flexible digitalized modeling technique, many more micro/nanoscale hydrogel robots or machines have become obtainable in respect of future interdisciplinary applications. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 7135 KiB  
Article
A Layer-Dependent Analytical Model for Printability Assessment of Additive Manufacturing Copper/Steel Multi-Material Components by Directed Energy Deposition
by Wenqi Zhang, Baopeng Zhang, Haifeng Xiao, Huanqing Yang, Yun Wang and Haihong Zhu
Micromachines 2021, 12(11), 1394; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12111394 - 13 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2258
Abstract
Copper/steel bimetal, one of the most popular and typical multi-material components (MMC), processes excellent comprehensive properties with the high strength of steel and the high thermal conductivity of copper alloy. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology is characterized by layer-wise fabrication, and thus is especially [...] Read more.
Copper/steel bimetal, one of the most popular and typical multi-material components (MMC), processes excellent comprehensive properties with the high strength of steel and the high thermal conductivity of copper alloy. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology is characterized by layer-wise fabrication, and thus is especially suitable for fabricating MMC. However, considering both the great difference in thermophysical properties between copper and steel and the layer-based fabrication character of the AM process, the optimal processing parameters will vary throughout the deposition process. In this paper, we propose an analytical calculation model to predict the layer-dependent processing parameters when fabricating the 07Cr15Ni5 steel on the CuCr substrate at the fixed layer thickness (0.3 mm) and hatching space (0.3 mm). Specifically, the changes in effective thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity with the layer number, as well as the absorption rate and catchment efficiency with the processing parameters are considered. The parameter maps predicted by the model have good agreement with the experimental results. The proposed analytical model provides new guidance to determine the processing windows for novel multi-material components, especially for the multi-materials whose physical properties are significantly different. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 7277 KiB  
Article
Laser-Sintered Mg-Zn Supersaturated Solid Solution with High Corrosion Resistance
by Youwen Yang, Wei Wang, Mingli Yang, Yingxin Yang, Dongsheng Wang, Zhigang Liu and Cijun Shuai
Micromachines 2021, 12(11), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12111368 - 6 Nov 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2218
Abstract
Solid solutions of Zn as an alloy element in Mg matrixes are expected to show improved corrosion resistance due to the electrode potential being positively shifted. In this study, a supersaturated solid solution of Mg-Zn alloy was achieved using mechanical alloying (MA) combined [...] Read more.
Solid solutions of Zn as an alloy element in Mg matrixes are expected to show improved corrosion resistance due to the electrode potential being positively shifted. In this study, a supersaturated solid solution of Mg-Zn alloy was achieved using mechanical alloying (MA) combined with laser sintering. In detail, supersaturated solid solution Mg-Zn powders were firstly prepared using MA, as it was able to break through the limit of phase diagram under the action of forced mechanical impact. Then, the alloyed Mg-Zn powders were shaped into parts using laser sintering, during which the limited liquid phase and short cooling time maintained the supersaturated solid solution. The Mg-Zn alloy derived from the as-milled powders for 30 h presented enhanced corrosion potential and consequently a reduced corrosion rate of 0.54 mm/year. Cell toxicity tests confirmed that the Mg-Zn solid solution possessed good cytocompatibility for potential clinical applications. This study offers a new strategy for fabricating Mg-Zn solid solutions using laser sintering with MA. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

41 pages, 14677 KiB  
Review
A Review of Spatter in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing: In Situ Detection, Generation, Effects, and Countermeasures
by Zheng Li, Hao Li, Jie Yin, Yan Li, Zhenguo Nie, Xiangyou Li, Deyong You, Kai Guan, Wei Duan, Longchao Cao, Dengzhi Wang, Linda Ke, Yang Liu, Ping Zhao, Lin Wang, Kunpeng Zhu, Zhengwen Zhang, Liang Gao and Liang Hao
Micromachines 2022, 13(8), 1366; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13081366 - 22 Aug 2022
Cited by 73 | Viewed by 9851
Abstract
Spatter is an inherent, unpreventable, and undesired phenomenon in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing. Spatter behavior has an intrinsic correlation with the forming quality in L-PBF because it leads to metallurgical defects and the degradation of mechanical properties. This impact becomes [...] Read more.
Spatter is an inherent, unpreventable, and undesired phenomenon in laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) additive manufacturing. Spatter behavior has an intrinsic correlation with the forming quality in L-PBF because it leads to metallurgical defects and the degradation of mechanical properties. This impact becomes more severe in the fabrication of large-sized parts during the multi-laser L-PBF process. Therefore, investigations of spatter generation and countermeasures have become more urgent. Although much research has provided insights into the melt pool, microstructure, and mechanical property, reviews of spatter in L-PBF are still limited. This work reviews the literature on the in situ detection, generation, effects, and countermeasures of spatter in L-PBF. It is expected to pave the way towards a novel generation of highly efficient and intelligent L-PBF systems. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 5931 KiB  
Review
A Review on Macroscopic and Microstructural Features of Metallic Coating Created by Pulsed Laser Material Deposition
by Xinlin Wang, Jinkun Jiang and Yongchang Tian
Micromachines 2022, 13(5), 659; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13050659 - 22 Apr 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2490
Abstract
Owing to the unparalleled advantages in repairing of high value-add component with big size, fabricating of functionally graded material, and cladding to enhance the surface properties of parts, the laser material deposition (LMD) is widely used. Compared to the continuous wave (CW) laser, [...] Read more.
Owing to the unparalleled advantages in repairing of high value-add component with big size, fabricating of functionally graded material, and cladding to enhance the surface properties of parts, the laser material deposition (LMD) is widely used. Compared to the continuous wave (CW) laser, the controllability of the laser energy would be improved and the temperature history would be different under the condition of pulse wave (PW) laser through changing the pulse parameters, such as duty cycle and pulse frequency. In this paper, the research status of temperature field simulation, surface quality, microstructural features, including microstructures, microhardness, residual stress, and cracking, as well as corrosion behavior of metallic coating created by pulsed laser material deposition have been reviewed. Furthermore, the existing knowledge and technology gaps are identified while the future research directions are also discussed. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop