Formability of Selective Laser Melted AlSi10Mg

In this study, the formability of selective laser melted AlSi10Mg aluminium alloy was studied by Erichsen and bending tests by using an instrumented hydraulic loading machine. The test materials were 3 mm thick flat specimens. Deep drawability was tested using a punch-die setup. For bending, a three-point bending tools and varying bending radii were used, and force and displacement were recorded. The test specimens were printed in various printing directions using 0 degrees and 90 degrees, and then subsequently post-treated in an oven. Heat treatment parameters, i.e. soaking temperature and holding time were optimized. Formability was tested on both untreated and heat-treated conditions. Results indicated, that all studied parameters influenced the formability, i.e. printing directions and post-treatment parameters. The most profound difference was recorded between the untreated and post-treated specimen, as the untreated had almost brittle behaviour during plastic deformation, and the post-treated specimen depicted a more ductile behaviour due to stress relief, softening and microstructural changes.