Influence of contour parameters on the surface roughness of fine channels produced by powder bed fusion-laser beam

Surface roughness strongly influences the performance of fine internal channels in additively manufactured components. This study investigates how contour process parameters affect the surface finish of 1 mm-diameter channels produced by powder bed fusion–laser beam (PBF-LB). Five contour parameter sets with progressively increasing laser energy density (LED) were applied, while keeping infill parameters constant. Surface roughness was evaluated using surface profilometry, X-ray computed tomography (XCT), and optical microscopy (OM). Profilometry and OM provided localized measurements, whereas XCT captured full-channel roughness along the build direction. Results show that increasing LED initially reduces surface roughness due to improved melting and removal of partially fused particles, reaching optimal smoothness at an intermediate LED. Further LED increase causes roughness to rise again, attributed to balling and dross formation. Optical cross-sections depicted these trends, and XCT measurements closely matched profilometry data. The findings in this study highlight a trade-off between surface quality and dimensional accuracy, as higher LEDs improve smoothness but reduce channel diameter. This work establishes an optimal contour LED range for minimizing as-built surface roughness in fine internal channels, which can enhance the functional performance of PBF-LB components in aerospace, medical, and energy applications.