Tailoring grain structure including grain size distribution, morphology, and orientation via building parameters on 316L parts produced by laser powder bed fusion

Having information about the impact of some parameters on the microstructure of parts manufactured by the laser powder bed fusion process is considered among the serious challenges to be achieved. In this regard, a wide range of scan speed and laser power values were chosen to predict how much these parameters affect the microstructure such as grain orientations, shapes, and sizes. These represent the basic factors to monitor the mechanical properties of printed parts. A two-dimensional microstructure model based on the cellular automata (CA) was adopted to track the grain structure features of 316L stainless steel. The microstructure in XY and XZ planes including the grain orientation and the grain size are debated with details in our outcomes. The results clearly show that the microstructure is significantly influenced by modifying the process parameters. The higher the scan speed, the finer the grain size, and vice versa for the laser power, which improves the mechanical properties. Increasing the scan speed leads to an enhanced grain orientation towards the building direction. Result predictions are approved by experimental investigations.