Electron Beam Melting (EBM)

This process is also part of the additive manufacturing process and produces the metallic components directly from the powder bed.

As an energy source, an electron beam through which the metal powder is selectively melted. As a result, compact components in almost any geometry can be produced directly from the design data.

Similar to the selective laser sintering, a powder layer is applied to the previous one and selectively melted by electron beam. In this way, the desired component is generated in layers.

The main advantages compared to casting are:

  • Great geometric freedom of design
  • Short time between development and market introduction
  • Higher material efficiency
  • No costs for component-specific tools, molds, cores or like that.
  • Economic production of prototypes and / or small series

Additional references: 
Rapid prototyping (RP)
Selective Laser Sintering (LS)
Printing process (3D)
Stereolithography

  • Fig. 1: Electron Beam Melting (principle); Source: www.3druck.com