Electron Beam Melting

Additive manufacturing offers greater freedom in design and allows for the creation of optimized parts that are not constrained by the limits of traditional manufacturing. Arcam EBM has the unique ability to tightly stack parts within the build in order to increase productivity. An optimized build file is sliced and loaded into the Arcam EBM system.  Following this metal powder is loaded into the machine. The build chamber is then closed, and a vacuum is created to ensure a clean controlled environment that allows for the processing of reactive material. Next Arcam EBM’s powder layering system evenly distributes a thin layer of powder on the build area. A powerful six-kilowatt electron beam heats the powder bed to the optimal ambient temperate and then proceeds to melt the powder. First contour melting then hatch melting the electron beam unit generating the beam contains no moving parts allowing for extremely fast and accurate beam control. The build environment is kept hot reaching temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius. Resulting in no residual stresses and allowing for the process of crack prone materials. As each layer is completed the build is lowered and a fresh layer of build powder is raked over it. The process repeats drawing the build one layer at a time. When the build is complete the tank is extracted and the Arcam EBM machine is prepared for the next build.

During the hot process, the electron beam heats each layer of the build until the entire powder bed reaches an optimal process temperature specific to the material used. 

As a result, the EBM process produces components without residual stresses and have microstructures free from martensitic structures.

The Electron Beam Melting process takes place in a vacuum chamber to ensure a clean and controlled build environment.

Vacuum production is an important aspect of the EBM process as it maintains the chemical specification of the build material.

During sintering, parts are produced free floating in sintered powder. This allows parts to be stacked tightly and limits, or eliminates, the need for supports.

EBM technology offers greater freedom of design, as well higher build volume builds, thanks to part-stacking capability. This combination allows for the manufacture of complex and detailed orthopedic implants.

There is a growing number of CE-certified and FDA-cleared implants on the market produced with the Arcam EBM technology.

Aerospace is an innovative industry, and engineers are always searching for ways to make parts lighter, faster and more efficient. The EBM process allows you to produce lightweight components with a very efficient buy-to-fly ratio. EBM also allows you to additively manufacture parts using crack-prone materials.