Semnan University Press Journal of Modeling in Engineering 2008-4854 23 82 2025 09 23 Effect of Laser Power and Scanning Speed on the Structural Resolution of Polymeric parts Produced by Selective Laser Melting 3D Printer Effect of Laser Power and Scanning Speed on the Structural Resolution of Polymeric parts Produced by Selective Laser Melting 3D Printer 115 126 10054 10.22075/jme.2025.34924.2713 FA Seyed Taha Khademian Faculty of physics, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran Aliasghar Ajami Faculty of physics, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran 0000-0002-4471-3366 Journal Article 2024 08 01 Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an innovative method for building complex 3D structures. One of the primary 3D printing techniques is powder bed fusion in which, specific areas of a thin layer of powder material are irradiated by a laser to melt or sinter the material, which then solidifies. In this research, the parameters related to selective laser melting/sintering (SLM/SLS) are investigated both experimentally and numerically. Since the lasers used in SLS 3D printers are typically continuous wave (CW) or long-pulse lasers, heat generation and conduction are the main processes resulting from light-matter interaction. Therefore, the heat conduction equation is employed to simulate the interaction process and determine the temporal and spatial behavior of temperature using COMSOL software. A diode laser with a wavelength of 450 nm and maximum power of 4 W is used for experiment. Polyethylene plastic powder (HDPE 3840UA) is utilized for SLM/SLS structuring. Since the absorption of pure polyethylene at 450 nm is very low, it is mixed with a portion of graphite to serve as an absorptive additive. The effects of the two main parameters of 3D printing, laser power and scanning speed, on the width of solid lines printed via SLM/SLS are investigated experimentally and numerically. The results  of investigation show that for a low laser power of about 0.3 W, the scanning speed should be set below 600 mm/min, and for a high scanning speed of 3000 mm/min, the laser power should exceed 2 W. Beyond these ranges, no SLM/SLS will occur.   Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, is an innovative method for building complex 3D structures. One of the primary 3D printing techniques is powder bed fusion in which, specific areas of a thin layer of powder material are irradiated by a laser to melt or sinter the material, which then solidifies. In this research, the parameters related to selective laser melting/sintering (SLM/SLS) are investigated both experimentally and numerically. Since the lasers used in SLS 3D printers are typically continuous wave (CW) or long-pulse lasers, heat generation and conduction are the main processes resulting from light-matter interaction. Therefore, the heat conduction equation is employed to simulate the interaction process and determine the temporal and spatial behavior of temperature using COMSOL software. A diode laser with a wavelength of 450 nm and maximum power of 4 W is used for experiment. Polyethylene plastic powder (HDPE 3840UA) is utilized for SLM/SLS structuring. Since the absorption of pure polyethylene at 450 nm is very low, it is mixed with a portion of graphite to serve as an absorptive additive. The effects of the two main parameters of 3D printing, laser power and scanning speed, on the width of solid lines printed via SLM/SLS are investigated experimentally and numerically. The results  of investigation show that for a low laser power of about 0.3 W, the scanning speed should be set below 600 mm/min, and for a high scanning speed of 3000 mm/min, the laser power should exceed 2 W. Beyond these ranges, no SLM/SLS will occur.   https://modelling.semnan.ac.ir/article_10054_bef4d169d8bddd17d68303877a3ea945.pdf