Influence of Layer Thickness on Internal Structure of Parts Manufactured from 316-L Steel Using SLM Technology

Abstract

Nowadays Additive Manufacturing, and in particular Selective Laser Melting (SLM ), is being used more and more. The SLM manufacturing process has been subjects to a lot of studies in order to improve the manufacturing parameters. In this paper are presented some researches on the internal structure of the manufactured parts with two layer thickness: 30[μm] and 50[μm]. The internal structure of parts manufactured on SLM machine is obtained as images with a microscope. On the images each grain of the internal structures is painted in a different color and grouped according to its shape. All data about grains are analyzed by the means of statistical methods. The two manufacturing strategies, 30[μm] and 50[μm] layer thickness, generate parts that have slightly different internal structures. Thus, from the point of views of internal structure and manufacturing time, the strategy with 50[μm] layer thickness can be used because it generates a lowering in manufacturing costs and increases the overall productivity.