International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

The effect of the low-frequency vibration processing on the residual elastic stresses in the Ti-6Al-4V alloy manufactured by 3D printing (Selective laser melting) was investigated. The studied sample was manufactured horizontally in respect to the building platform. Different vibration oscillations modes (vertical, horizontal, and elliptical) were chosen for study. The oscillations were done with frequency of 16 Hz, and a processing time was 20 minutes. Studies shown that 3D printed sample had a high level of residual elastic stresses, which were changed after vibration treatment. The optimal parameters of vibration processing, which provide a minimum level of residual elastic stresses in 3D printed Ti-6Al-4V alloy are discussed.

TiAl6V (ELI) has the low density, low elastic modulus and high strength. Biocompatibility of this material allows one to adapt it to human implant production and successfully use in the manufacture of surgical implants. Spherical argon-atomized Ti6Al4V (ELI) (45µm) powder from TLS Technik was used for study. The chemical composition complies with the ASTM F-136 (grade 5), ASTM B348 (grade 23) standard for surgical implant applications. Two machines from two scientific centers (Russia and South Africa) were used for the manufacturing of the alloys. Analysis of the oxygen and nitrogen contamination in SLM alloys was done with Van de Graaff accelerator with 2 Mega Volts. It is found that the oxygen concentration in both samples is about 0.2 wt. % and decreases with the increasing of the sample depth; the nitrogen concentration is about 0,02 wt%. X-Ray results show an absence of beta (BCC) phase in both samples. TEM studies found the metastable martensitic structure and silicon nitride Si3N4.