Anisotropy of additively manufactured 18Ni-300 maraging steel: Threads and surface characteristics

Abstract The purpose was to evaluate part properties of additively manufactured 18Ni-300 maraging steel in a unified set-up when the printing orientation and the heat treatment were independently changed. Though the hardness, shrinkage, and drilling thrust force showed isotropic behavior to a certain extent, anisotropy was observed in the flatness, surface roughness, dross, and thread profiles. Solution treatment increases the surface roughness and reduces the flatness, surface hardness, drilling thrust force, and thread quality to some extent. Aging treatment significantly increases the surface hardness and yet still allows good-quality threads to be cut. The study aids designers in establishing and corroborating design for additive manufacturing.