​The finishing step of additively manufactured metal components may be categorised into three mechanisms: 1) mechanical, 2) thermal and 3) (electro-)chemical processes. In this article, we review the effectiveness and impact of mechanical subtractive techniques on finished AM components.

A356 aluminium alloy (AlSi7Mg0.3) is widely used for gravity casting. Its good ductility, strength and corrosion resistance properties make it a compelling material for components requiring high reliability. Examples of parts traditionally built using A356 include engine parts, hydraulic components, brackets, housing covers in automotive, aerospace, and machinery industries [1, 2].
In this post we present the superior mechanical properties of A356 components showing 99.8% relative density [3] and built on the EOSINT M280.

Where the coarse acidular silicon acts as crack initiation sites in conventional cast alloys, refined eutectic microstructure of Al–Si alloys machined by SLM tends to dramatically improve their mechanical properties - specifically strength and ductility [1]. Here we report the latest findings on AlSi12 where SLM combined with solution heat treatment generates 25% tensile ductility. [2]