Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference 2018

H13, a type of multifunctional chromium-molybdenum carbon steel, is widely used in hot work applications. However, when applied in additive manufacturing processes, H13 suffers from process-induced defects. Thus, processing requires appropriate parameters in Laser beam melting (LBM). Based on a comprehensive parameter investigation robust LBM parameters were found. H13 can be processed additively at elevated temperatures by applying appropriate laser parameters. Besides laser parameters, this investigation focuses on the evaluation of the microstructure under different heat treatment conditions, in particular of phases and defects at all length scales from macro- to nanoscale, and subsequently, on the corresponding mechanical properties. Furthermore, the mutual relations of chemical composition, process conditions as well as microstructural and mechanical properties will be discussed and clarified illustratively using simulations. In the future, these experimentally confirmed parameters should be valid for the manufacturing of high-demanding components and be implemented for a scientific-based simulation model which allows for the prediction of laser parameters for new combinations of alloys and LBM-systems.