Effect of Scanning Strategy on the Manufacturing Quality and Performance of Printed 316L Stainless Steel Using SLM Process

Abstract

In this study, the effects of Z-0°, Z-67°, Z-90°, I-67°, and S-67° scanning strategies on the surface morphology, microstructure, and corrosion resistance of the specimens in SLM316L were systematically studied. The results show that the partition scanning path can effectively improve the manufacturing quality of the specimen, reduce the cumulative roughness layer by layer, and increase the density of the specimen. The scan path of the island partition of the fine partition is better than that of the strip partition; moreover, the 67° rotation between each layer reduces the accumulation of the height difference of the melt pool, fills the scanning gap of the previous layer, and improves the molding quality of the sample. Electrochemical tests were performed in an aqueous solution of NaCl (3.5 wt%), including open-circuit potential (OCP), dynamic potential polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that the specimen with a 67° rotation between each layer achieves stability of the surface potential in a short time, and the I-67° specimen exhibits good corrosion performance, while the Z-0° specimen has the worst corrosion resistance.