Analysis of Fatigue Properties of Selective Laser Melting 316L Stainless Workpiece After Post-heat Treatment

The selective laser melting (SLM) technology, which uses lasers to melt powder, has been widely applied worldwide. This study focuses on 316L stainless steel, known for its high strength and excellent wear resistance, to investigate the effects of heat treatment at different temperatures (500, 700, 900, 1100 °C) on the fatigue behavior of 316L stainless steel. The characteristics of surface fatigue damage, the origins of fatigue cracks, and the relationship between the printing-induced microstructure and mechanical properties were analyzed, through experimentation. The results show that heat treatment at around 700 °C is most effective in enhancing the fatigue strength of SLM-316L, with its fatigue life being approximately 19% longer than that of SLM-316L without heat treatment.