What advantages does SLM offer for high-temperature alloy part manufacturing?

Design Freedom and Complexity

Selective Laser Melting (SLM) enables the fabrication of highly complex geometries that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional casting or machining. It allows the integration of lattice structures, optimized internal cooling channels and near-net-shape features directly into high-temperature alloys such as Inconel 718 and Hastelloy X. This capability significantly improves thermal management and structural efficiency in high-stress environments.

Material Utilization and Weight Reduction

SLM is highly material-efficient, using only the required powder for each layer and reducing waste compared to subtractive methods. Lightweight components, especially in aerospace and aviation or energy applications, can be produced by combining internal cavities and thin-walled structures with full structural integrity.

Rapid Prototyping and Shorter Lead Times

SLM significantly accelerates the development cycle. Components can be produced directly from CAD models without the need for tooling, shortening lead times and enabling faster iteration for complex superalloy parts. This is particularly valuable during early-stage testing before further processes like post-process treatments, including HIP or heat treatment, are applied for property enhancement.

Integration with Post-Processing

SLM-produced parts often undergo hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and heat treatment to eliminate porosity and optimize the microstructure. Finishing operations such as superalloy CNC machining and EDM are used to refine tolerance-critical areas, resulting in parts that meet the performance requirements of turbine engines and combustion systems.