# A greedy algorithm for optimal heating in powder-bed-based additive manufacturing

## TL;DR

This paper presents a greedy optimization algorithm for controlling heat input in powder-bed additive manufacturing, improving temperature management and melt uniformity during the process.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel greedy control scheme that divides the complex heat optimization into smaller problems, enhancing melt pool control in additive manufacturing.

## Key findings

- Successfully manages heat accumulation at turning points
- Achieves more uniform melt depths
- Resolves heat conduction issues

## Abstract

Powder-bed-based additive manufacturing involves melting of a powder bed using a moving laser or electron beam as a heat source. In this paper, we formulate an optimization scheme that aims to control this type of melting. The goal consists of tracking maximum temperatures on lines that run along the beam path. Time-dependent beam parameters (more specifically, beam power, spot size, and speed) act as control functions. The scheme is greedy in the sense that it exploits local properties of the melt pool in order to divide a large optimization problem into several small ones. As illustrated by numerical examples, the scheme can resolve heat conduction issues such as concentrated heat accumulation at turning points and non-uniform melt depths.