Towards understanding the machining effect on the additively manufactured stainless steel for various scanning directions: Texture evolution and mechanical properties

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology hybridized with subtractive manufacturing has been extensively applied as a solution for the fabrication of functional parts. However, the complicated morphologies and anisotropic properties of the resultant grain features lead to challenges in the metallurgical and mechanical analysis of the cutting process of AM-materials, affecting the understanding on mechanical strength alteration of the final surface. In this study, a crystallographic-texture-based analysis method is proposed to elucidate the cutting-induced microstructural alteration from the grain to the texture level, enabling a comprehensive understanding of the collective effect of the hybrid cutting process on the resultant surface. Orthogonal cutting on additively manufactured 17–4 PH stainless steel applying three scanning directions was conducted to produce cut surfaces. In-depth electron backscatter diffraction inspection was applied for quantitative texture analysis based on the calculation of the orientation distribution function and volume fractions of significant texture components. As a result, the textures of the machined surfaces showed an increased intensity of normal direction fiber component to that of building direction with respect to 0° and 90° owing to cutting-induced deformation. This work advances the understanding on the roles of textural evolution for achieving a better surface quality regulation via function-oriented hybrid manufacturing process.