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Figure 1.2.

The diversity of materials has convoluted the 3D structures being fabricated with a distinct class of functional time and assembly. AM technology emerged as a great boon over conventional methodologies for creating complex geometries (Ngo 2018). The prominent process of AM is classified into the following seven types:

 – laser beam melting;

 – electron beam melting;

 – selective laser melting;

 – direct metal laser sintering;

 – laser metal fusion;

 – direct metal deposition.

The laser beam melting (LBM) technology uses a laser beam to fuse the succeeding layers of metal powders, which are suitably used in thin-walled, small-scale structures to build a 3D part from the powder bed. In this method, a CAD model is first converted into an STL file and then sliced into a 2D element; at each layer, the powder bed is sintered by distributing the layers of powder throughout the building platform using a laser beam. The above-described process is simultaneous and stops after the completion of the product. This method is suitable for metals, polymers and ceramics (Bayerlein 2018). LBM produces strong parts due to its reduced porosity and controlled crystal structure.