Metal 3D printing is one of the most promising manufacturing methods in the 4th industrial revolution. Since the metal powders are melted by laser to form specific shape in metal 3D printer, the materials’ properties vary dramatically depending on the processing conditions such as laser power, atmosphere, scan speed and etc. Particularly, as pores in the final product induce the crack, the characterization and control of pores in metal 3D printing is essential to make reliable products. Generally, the pore changes depending on the laser intensity. When the input energy is insufficient, powders are not fully melted while the spherical pores come from the isolated air when excessive energy is introduced.
In this study, we have systematically investigated the fine pores in 4 different CP-Ti specimens using an x-ray tomography that allows the non-destructive observation of pores. In addition, we introduce the simulation of pore generation through computational fluid dynamics.