The Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology under Additive Manufacturing (AM) has been rapidly utilized in many industries. However, their post-processing in manufacture is still required specially to increase the surface finish and dimensional precision for producing components effectively. Nevertheless, limited component qualities like as surface roughness or geometrical accuracy prevent them from being used directly after printing process. As a result, functioning surfaces must be undergone post-processed (e.g., milling, grinding, polishing) in order to increase their quality and productivity. Due to the complexity of design structural, thermal, and process parameters in Selective Laser Melting (SLM), support structures are required to be machined. Currently a few systematic researches have been conducted to reveal the support removability through several post-machining techniques. Based on this study, an experimental manufacturing of removing 316L stainless steel block supports by milling process was conducted which manufacturing plan and control being utilized. The milling machining performance of block supports at different cutting parameter is studied on the surface roughness. During this process, surface roughness, Ra is significantly affected by cutting speed, feed per tooth, step over, and cut pattern respectively. The results show that the minimum surface roughness, Ra is obtained at 0.595 μm when surface speed 40 m/min, feed per tooth 0.15 mm/tooth, step over 0.065 mm with cut pattern follow periphery operation mode was justified.

The research findings give an important reference as well as a unique insight into the removal of metal support structures strategy through manufacturing planning and control of their machining processes. Furthermore, the removability of supports, which is generated from the post-processing stage, should be regarded as a new aspect in additive manufacturing of post-processing manufacturing component. Finally, this can be increased productivity of SLM-AM process components which alco can support the digital manufacturing approach in the future.

Keywords

Post-processing - Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Additive Manufacturing (AM), Manufacturing Plan & Control, Milling Machining, Digital Manufacturing