The influence of a process interruption on tensile properties of AlSi10Mg samples produced by selective laser melting
ISSN: 1355-2546
Article publication date: 15 August 2019
Issue publication date: 12 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of a process interruption on the tensile properties of AlSi10Mg samples produced by selective laser melting (SLM).
Design/methodology/approach
Using identical processing parameters, cylindrical samples were produced in either a continuous or interrupted SLM build operation. The tensile properties and microstructure of the samples were determined as a function of process type as well as orientation.
Findings
All samples produced in this paper displayed superior tensile properties to those produced in high pressure die casting. In general, the samples produced in the continuous build process had higher strengths and microhardness than those produced in the interrupted process. However, while most samples displayed random failure locations, the vertical samples produced in the interrupted build process showed a strong tendency for localized failure in the vicinity of the stoppage plane.
Originality/value
This paper demonstrated that samples produced in an interrupted build process tend to have poorer mechanical properties than those produced in a continuous process. Together, these observations highlight the importance of a suitable technique for restarting and completing an interrupted build process to ensure the production of high quality components.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to R. Eder for sample production and to A. Kammerer for sample testing. One of the authors (VH) would like to acknowledge funding received from the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Army) for Defense Exports and Cooperation that enabled his appointment to WIWeB as part of the US Department of Defense Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program.
Citation
Hammond, V., Schuch, M. and Bleckmann, M. (2019), "The influence of a process interruption on tensile properties of AlSi10Mg samples produced by selective laser melting", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 25 No. 8, pp. 1442-1452. https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-04-2018-0105
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited