Selective laser melting of Fe-Ni-Cr layer on AISI H13 tool steel

An attempt to fabricate Fc-Ni-Cr coating on AISI H13 tool steel was performed with selective laser melting. Fe-Ni-Cr coating was produced by experimental facilities consisting of a 200 W fiber laser which can be focused to 80 mu m and atmospheric chamber which can control atmospheric pressure with N-2 or Ar. Coating layer was fabricated with various process parameters such as laser power, scan rate and fill spacing. Surface quality and coating thickness were measured and analyzed. Three different surface patterns, such as type 1, type 11 and type 111, are shown with various test conditions and smooth regular pattern is obtained under the conditions as 10 mu m of fill spacing, 50-350 mm/s of scan rate and 40 pm of fill spacing, 10-150 mm/s of scan rate. The maximum coating thickness is increased with power elevation or scan rate drop, and average thickness of 10 mu m fill spacing is lower than that of 40 mu m fill spacing.