Sources
Help build the largest human-edited directory on the web.
Submit a site - Become an editor
Wikipedia. Licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Are you an expert in this subject? Join the discussion and share your knowledge at Wikipedia.org.
Electron Beam Melting
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Electron Beam Melting (EBM), is a type of rapid prototyping for metal parts. It is often classified as a rapid manufacturing method. The technology manufactures parts by melting metal powder layer per layer with an electron beam in a high vacuum.
This method produces solid metal pieces directly from metal powder with characteristics of the target material. The EBM machine reads in data from a 3D CAD model and lays down successive layers of powdered material and in this way builds up the model. These layers are fused together utilizing a computer controlled electron beam. The melted material is from a pure alloy in powder form of the final material to be fabricated (No filler). For that reason the Electron Beam Technology doesn't require additional thermal treatment to obtain full mechanical properties of the parts. That aspect allow classification of EBM with LSM where competing technologies like SLS and DMLS which required thermal treatment after fabrication. Comparatively to SLS and DMSL, EBM as a generally inferior build rate (Speed) because of it's scanning method (1D).
Titanium alloys are widely used with this technology which makes it a technical candidate for the medical implant market. Highly demanding mechanical application is also targeted. The tolerance capability of this technology is around =/-0.013".
