Additive Manufacturing of Tool Steels

steel research international, vol. 94

Abstract

The public funded project “AddSteel” aims to develop functionally adapted steel materials for additive manufacturing (AM). Based on the AM process laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), the holistic process chain, including alloy design, powder atomization, AM, and postheat treatment, is considered to achieve this objective. Tool steels are usually characterized by higher carbon content and limited weldability, leading to limited processability for LPBF. To extend these limitations, different approaches for tool steels are investigated: for high‐carbon tool steels, the effects of lower martensite start temperature are investigated using the alloy 1.2842 as an example. A low martensite start temperature seems to be advantageous for crack‐free processing with LPBF. In order to avoid a high hardness level after rapid cooling, the use of a hot work steel with a carbon content of 0.2 wt% is investigated. Due to the chemical composition of the material, a moderate preheating temperature <300 °C is required. In addition, very high scanning speeds are possible with an improved shielding gas flow. Finally, the experience along the process chain with the standard steels is used for a modification of the alloy 1.2344. The effects of this modification on AM and heat treatment are investigated.

Authors 8

1. Andreas Vogelpoth corresponding Aachen

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT Steinbachstraße 15 52074 Aachen Germany

2. Jasmin Saewe Aachen

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT Steinbachstraße 15 52074 Aachen Germany

3. Hans-Günter Krull
   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsche Edelstahlwerke Specialty Steel GmbH & Co. KG Oberschlesienstraße 16 47807 Krefeld Germany

4. Svenja Richert
   Affiliation as printed

   Deutsche Edelstahlwerke Specialty Steel GmbH & Co. KG Oberschlesienstraße 16 47807 Krefeld Germany

5. Peter Weiland

   SMS Siemag (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   SMS group GmbH Eduard-Schloemann-Straße 4 40237 Düsseldorf Germany

6. Thomas Nerzak

   SMS Siemag (Germany)

   Affiliation as printed

   SMS group GmbH Eduard-Schloemann-Straße 4 40237 Düsseldorf Germany

7. Florian Eibl
   Affiliation as printed

   Aconity GmbH Kaiserstr. 98 52134 Herzogenrath Germany

   Aconity GmbH, Kaiserstr. 98, 52134 Herzogenrath, Germany

8. Felix Pastors
   Affiliation as printed

   Aconity GmbH Kaiserstr. 98 52134 Herzogenrath Germany

   Aconity GmbH, Kaiserstr. 98, 52134 Herzogenrath, Germany