![Research](../../_files/images/research/projects/novel-deposition-strategies.png)
Electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) has about 100% higher deposition rate than the laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) AM process resulting in high productivity and a decrease in cost per part. However, this process is relatively underexplored compared to the L-PBF process and has limited material options. With recent developments in the commercial E-PBF equipment landscape and the push to improve the productivity of PBF AM processes, there is a significant opportunity to advance this class of PBF technologies. Our goal is to establish E-PBF as a high-productivity deployable technology for DOD applications by addressing challenges related to deposition rate, process variability, and limited choice of materials. With this project, we investigate the possibility to exploit high beam powers, up to 6kW, and high scanning velocities (km/s) in unique scan strategies to increase deposition rates. We explore the formation of new and previously uncharacterized defects found at higher beam powers and unique melting strategies. Further, we develop control strategies to enable efficient path planning when utilizing advanced scan strategies enabled by high beam powers and high scanning velocities.