Study of surface integrity of rapid manufacturing parts after different thermal and finishing treatments

Rapid Manufacturing like Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) is starting to be implemented in the development of functional components. Therefore, surface integrity of these parts must be carefully analysed for the fulfillment of current technical requirements. In this work, CoCr, Maraging Steel and Inconel parts subjected to different thermal and mechanical finishing treatments (shot peening and polishing) have been characterized with the objective of determining the optimum stress relieving treatment. It has been studied the effect of these stabilization treatments mainly on residual stresses and hardness. In general, the rapid manufacturing process generates detrimental residual stresses and shot peening, and final polishing improve and homogenize the surface residual state of the parts.