Correlation Between Process Parameters and Fracture Property of 316L Stainless Steel Parts Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

Abstract Compact tension (CT) specimens of 316L stainless steel (SS) were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) technology using different combination of process parameters, including laser power, scanning speed, layer thickness and scanning strategy. The correlation between these process parameters and fracture property was investigated by Taguchi experiment. Crack opening displacement (COD) of the specimens were measured by digital image correlation (DIC) method. Through the analysis of range (ANOR) and analysis of variance (ANOVA), the influence of process parameters on the fracture property of pre-cracked CT specimens was found in the order of laser power, layer thickness, scanning strategy and scanning speed. The load increases gradually under the same COD value with the increase of laser power, and with the reduction of scanning speed and layer thickness. Within the selected range of parameters, the fracture property was optimal at the process parameters with a laser power of 200W, a scanning speed of 500mm/s, a layer thickness of 0.03mm and a parallel scanning strategy. This paper may provide guidance for process parameter selection to improve fracture property of selective laser melted parts.