Properties and microstructure of elements made by electron beam rapid prototyping process with wire

Abstract

In the paper the results of research on rapid prototyping using electron beam and deposit-ed material in the form of wire are presented. Electron beam rapid prototyping with wire is an efficient method for manufacturing complex shapes from metal alloys such as alloy steels, nickel alloys or titanium. This technology is used primarily in the aviation industry, especially in the military as it is designed rather for a unit production or small series production. As part of the work, technological conditions of the process for which it is possible to deposit test pieces in the form of rectangular prism were determined. Test elements were made using a stainless steel wire grade G 18 8 Mn. Metallographic examinations and selected mechanical properties were investigated. The deposited material is characterized by austenitic with ferrite delta, cell-dendritic microstructure. There are large dendritic grains which are extended towards the heat dissipation – towards the substrate. The hardness in the deposited material is in the range of 192 to 273 HV0.05 depending on the number of layers. In the area of mixing with the substrate, the hardness reaches the value of 355 HV0.05.

Keywords

• rapid prototyping
• electron beam
• stainless steels