Multiresponse Optimization of Selective Laser Melting Parameters for the Ni-Cr-Al-Ti-Based Superalloy Using Gray Relational Analysis

The selective laser melting technology is of great interest in the aerospace industry since it allows the implementation of more complex part geometries compared to the traditional technologies. This paper presents the results of studies to determine the optimal technological parameters for scanning a Ni-Cr-Al-Ti-based superalloy. However, due to a large number of factors affecting the quality of the parts obtained by selective laser melting technology, the optimization of the technological parameters of the scanning is a difficult task. In this work, the authors made an attempt to optimize the technological scanning parameters which will simultaneously correspond to the maximum values of the mechanical properties (“More is better”) and the minimum values of the dimensions of the microstructure defect (“Less is better”). Gray relational analysis was used to find the optimal technological parameters for scanning. Then, the resulting solutions were compared. As a result of the optimization of the technological parameters of the scanning by the gray relational analysis method, it was found that the maximum values of the mechanical properties were achieved simultaneously with the minimum values of the dimensions of a microstructure defect, at a laser power of 250 W and a scanning speed of 1200 mm/s. The authors present the results of the short-term mechanical tests for the uniaxial tension of the cylindrical samples at room temperature.