From our friend Don Godfrey at Honeywell - Differences Laser - EBM
The differences between the two technologies (at a high level) are as follows:
1)The EBM build process always occurs above 1,900 °F for the Inconel material. The high temperatures reduce residual stresses in the final parts, whereas laser processes operate in an environment of around 250°F that produces residual stresses, due to the rapid solidification of the material.
2)The EBM process uses a 3000 watt electron gun to build and preheat the build chamber.
3)The EBM process has MultiBeam technology that allows several melt pools to be maintained simultaneously and increase the build speed.
4)The EB process operates in a vacuum (<1X10-4 mbar) and helps eliminate impurities and the laser process operates in a gas shielded environment.
5)After the part is built in a laser process it can be removed from the build chamber. After the EB part is built, it must be allowed to cool for 8 hours before it can be removed from the machine.
6)After the laser part is built, it is usually placed in a furnace and stress relieved. The cool down period of the EB process serves as the stress relive process .
