Open Access Conference Proceedings

AISI H13 Is very commonly used in the hot-work category of steels. Whether it is used as a forging die, a hot-cutting tool, or a mold in injection molding or die casting, it is always on the table, as the material of choice. However, its potential has not yet been fully realized. New manufacturing techniques such as additive manufacturing (AM) broaden the horizon of the material’s application, and promise improved performance, through optimized geometry, unobtainable by traditional means, and heightened mechanical properties. One of the more widespread AM processes is Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) where a laser or electron beam constructs the model, by meting a thin coating of metal powder applied to a base plate. By repeatedly applying and melting powder, the end result is a layer-by-layer produced part. However, the techniques for producing such parts are not yet refined enough and require further research. Problems like porosities, part deflection, and crack formation due to residual stress are commonplace, while comparably low mechanical properties in the as-processed state call for post-production treatments. Naturally, every technique has its boons and drawbacks, and that is what this work aims to analyze – How do the PBF parts compare to classically produced ones, and what are the difficulties in producing the later-mentioned parts.

Keywords: Powder bed fusion, Tool Steel, Additive Manufacturing, Mechanical Properties

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