Machining properties of as-built additive manufactured Ti6Al4V titanium alloy through selective laser melting: a comprehensive investigation

Over the past two decades, additive manufacturing (AM) has gained attention for its numerous benefits. Despite the growing interest in AM processes for as build Ti6Al4V alloys, there is a lack of comprehensive benchmark research on their impacts. This study addresses this gap by conducting a thorough standard comparison encompassing microstructure, cutting speed, chip analysis, surface roughness, and hardness. Additionally, a conventionally processed Ti6Al4V (grade 23) alloy is a reference for thorough comparison. The research outcomes contribute to a better understanding of AM techniques’ implications on building selective laser melted (SLM) Ti6Al4V alloys. Specifically, SLM Ti6Al4V grade 23’s investigated material, demonstrates lower cutting forces. This observation is attributed to inherent characteristics, including porosity and the presence of unmelted particles resulting from the SLM process. Particularly, remarkable is the substantially higher hardness observed in SLM Ti6Al4V compared to its conventionally processed counterpart. This insight not only underscores the distinctive attributes of the material but also provides valuable knowledge for optimizing the application of AM Ti6Al4V alloy.