Research Progress in Equipment and Processes of Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing

Electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF), as an important meta additive manufacturing technology, has outstanding characteristics such as high power, high energy utilization, fast scanning speed, low forming stress, and vacuum environment forming，and attracts increasing attention in academics and industry. In recent years, many breakthroughs have been made for EB-PBF system and process.The problems that have long plagued the innovative development and application of this technology, such as small forming dimensions and short life of cathode, have been preliminary solved, and multiple new forming processes and online monitoring technologies for forming quality have emerged, the additive manufacturing of complex components made of high melting point, high activity,brittle and difficult to machine metal materials has shown broader application prospects. This article reviews the new developments in EB-PBF additive manufacturing technology both domestically and internationally from three aspects: system technology,forming process, and process monitoring. It also analyzes and prospects its development trends, technological challenges, and application prospects.