Metal Laser Powder Bed Fusion

People who know the basic principles and use cases of AM and want to go deeper into metal printing with powder bed fusion. Engineers, yes. But also procurement, management, product designers and everyone else who benefits from understanding what metal PBF can do.

You need basic AM background, for example from our Introduction to Additive Manufacturing track. No other prior knowledge is needed.

• What PBF-LB/M is, which parts it can produce, and where it excels and struggles
• The key terms you need: recoater, build platform, support structures
• How the process handles heat and supports complex shapes, and why that makes it tricky
• How material properties, powder quality, post-processing and certification demands shape the success of a part
• Which post-processing steps a part needs, and when to apply them

1. Introduction to powder bed fusion. A first look at how the technology works, what it can produce and where it fits in manufacturing. Your warm-up for the rest of the course.
2. How it works, step by step. It's not just a laser melting powder. It's the whole way the process behaves, from heat to supports. This chapter covers what defines PBF-LB/M and what makes it both powerful and demanding.
3. Materials for PBF-LB/M. Step into the shoes of an AM engineer selecting the right material for a high-stakes nozzle. Weigh material properties, powder quality, post-processing and certification.
4. Post-processing for PBF-LB/M. Printing is only the start. Cover powder removal, support removal, heat treatment, surface finishing and inspection, and when to use each, with scenarios and exercises.