| Abstract Scope |
Laser powder bed fusion (PBF) additive manufacturing (AM) can be used to fabricate intricate structures, including lattice structures that are promising for lightweight high stiffness applications. However, when fabricating struts on the order of 1 mm or smaller in diameter with PBF, the effects of surface roughness, upskin and downskin layers, and bulk processing parameters may all play a role in the ultimate mechanical performance of the lattices. This study worked to determine the interrelationships between strut thickness, surface roughness, grain size/morphology, texture, sub-grain cell size, and microhardness. Namely, the microstructural features and microhardness of stainless steel 316L lattice structures fabricated through laser powder bed fusion, using a range of processing parameters, were characterized to identify these relationships. |