OPTIMIZATION

Analytical Model

To optimize the manufacturing phase, an analytical model developed by Moda et al. was adopted. This approach, based on simplifying assumptions (point heat source moving at constant velocity, steady-state regime, material treated as a semi-infinite solid with constant thermophysical properties and a material-dependent absorption coefficient), enables accurate prediction of the thermal field generated by the laser during selective powder melting.

Through this model, dimensionless parameters, namely normalized power and scanning velocity, were defined, allowing the representation of the printability map, the identification of lack-of-fusion boundary conditions, and the detection of the keyhole region, i.e., the melt pool instability zone.

This strategy guides the design of AM processes by avoiding a purely empirical trial-and-error approach. The optimization of process parameters (laser power, scanning speed, layer thickness, and exposure pattern) provides the opportunity to tailor the stent geometry and, consequently, its interaction with blood flow, with the objective of improving local hemodynamics and reducing post-implantation clinical complications.