Single-Track Laser Scanning as a Method for Evaluating Printability: The Effect of Substrate Heat Treatment on Melt Pool Geometry and Cracking in Medium Carbon Tool Steel

Abstract Nearly all commercially available alloys have been developed for manufacturing processes other than additive manufacturing. Most of those are not suitable laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) processing due to the non-weldable nature casting, forging, and machining. Even some weldable can be difficult produce with L-PBF because characteristics L-PBF, such as highly concentrated heat input extremely high cooling rate, lead very residual stresses cracking. In order speed up development process new manufacturing, a powder-free evaluation method was used evaluate materials window susceptibility Single tracks were scanned an machine onto H13 steel substrates. The substrate condition varied, its effect on melt pool geometry cracking behavior evaluated. results clearly show that thermal history influences conductivity, affecting volume. Melting point found significant factor conductivity dimensions. Cracking type noted differ between If printability is assessed without powder, microstructure should similar rapidly solidified material. It recognized single-track tests adequate in terms stress evaluation, but they give valuable information about materials’ melting, segregation, micro-scale behavior.