Specifies the file containing the laser paths and parameters for full-3D additive methods
*LSR3
a1: 6 Axis type LSR File name
6-axis DED simulations are controlled by the laser path specified by the *LSR3 card. The file format is nearly identical to the traditional 2.5D *LSRF file, but with one additional column used to specify the layer group number. The file format is as follows:
r11, r12, r13, r14, r15, r16, r17, r18, r19, r1(10), r1(11), r1(12), r1(13), i11
r21, r22, r23, r24, r25, r26, r27, r28, r29, r2(10), r2(11), r2(12), r2(13), i21
...
r11: r*8: power
r12, r13, r14: r*8: vector of heat source direction
r15, r16, r17: r*8: start point
r18, r19, r1(10): r*8: end point
r1(11): r*8: melt pool radius
r1(12): r*8: velocity
r1(13): r*8: start time
r1(14): i*1: layer group number
...
The layer group number controls when elements are specified as quiet elements. For elements in layer groups that have not yet been reached, they remain 'dead' elements, not part of the solution matrices. Once that layer group is activated, they become quiet, using the scaling factors set in *DDM1. Once that layer group is finished and the next is begun, any elements not activated by the laser heat source are made 'dead' elements again and removed permanently from the solution matrices. Layer groups must be in increasing order, but have no other requirements.
6-axis simulations require a substrate STL as specified by *STLM.
Best practices
Specifying the number of layer groups requires a balance between the desire to have as few quiet element activated at a time in order to minimize the computational time it takes to resolve the problem, while also not switching layer groups so often that the renumbering process that occurs during each activation step slows down the simulation speed excessively. Typically a single uninterrupted laser pass is good starting place for layer group division. However for very large parts or for deposition process with no dwells, additional layer grouping may be necessary.
Required Cards: *STLF, *STLM