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Post-process machining of additive manufactured stainless steel
Published
Author(s)
Brandon M. Lane, Shawn P. Moylan, Eric P. Whitenton
Abstract
Due to the poorer surface finish and geometric accuracy of additive manufactured (AM) parts compared to machined parts, it is inevitable that parts fabricated through AM processes will require post-process machining. This problem was identified early by machine manufacturers which make hybrid additive-subtractive systems. Apart from these complex systems, many AM part requirements will require drilling, tapping, and surface finishing to meet their specified geometries, allowing the required functionality or fit in an assembly. There is already substantial amount of research attempting to analyze, measure, model, and predict material microstructure and mechanical properties of AM materials [1]. However, the rapid growth of the AM industry and incorporation into the manufacturing landscape ensures the use of post-process or hybrid machining will outpace fundamental research and broad scientific understanding. However, some basic experiments can shed light on the potential challenges and pitfalls of post-process or in-process hybrid machining of AM materials. Machine shop personnel at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have anecdotally reported more difficulty in milling, drilling, and tapping AM materials compared to their cast or wrought equivalent. This initiated an exploratory study into the machining characteristics of AM materials.
Proceedings Title
Proceedings of the 2015 ASPE Spring Topical Meeting: Achieving Precision Tolerances in Additive
Manufacturing
Conference Dates
April 27-29, 2015
Conference Location
Raleigh, NC
Conference Title
2015 ASPE Spring Topical Meeting: Achieving Precision Tolerances in Additive Manufacturing
Lane, B.
, Moylan, S.
and Whitenton, E.
(2015),
Post-process machining of additive manufactured stainless steel, Proceedings of the 2015 ASPE Spring Topical Meeting: Achieving Precision Tolerances in Additive
Manufacturing, Raleigh, NC, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=918449
(Accessed December 6, 2024)