Metal Additive Manufacturing Conference 2018

The tool and die industry is one of the most promising markets for Additive Manufacturing, even if there is still a lack of suitable materials. For conventional process routes, H13 tool steel is a well-established material due to its high thermo-fatigue and crack resistance, especially for applications in the high pressure die casting industry. Due to this situation, H13 is a promising candidate material for the AM process route as well. Several kinds of defects such as pores, cracks or lack of fusion can be formed during additive manufacturing of H13. These defects might have severe influence on the properties of the manufactured products. Against this background, the current study will systematically classify process-induced defects in order to provide a catalog for additive manufactured H13. In addition, in-depth investigations under different processing conditions allow for a detailed discussion on the underlying mechanisms leading to the formation of the different types of defects. Finally, theoretical models focusing on the effects and optimization strategies derived therefrom are provided. Thereby, this study contributes to effective guidelines for robust processing of H13 using Additive Manufacturing.