Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a technological process in which elements are fruitfully built up adding materials layer by layer. AM had a massive development in recent times, thanks to its intrinsic advantages, especially if compared with conventional processes (i.e. subtractive manufacturing methods), in terms of free-form design, high customization of products, a significant reduction in raw materials consumption, low request of postprocessing and heat treatments, use of pure materials and reduced time for final products to be marketed. In order to give an innovative contribution to the knowledge in the field of metal AM materials, this paper reports the main outcomes of an experimental campaign focused on the influence of several specific printing parameters on the mechanical features of the 17-4PH stainless steel, which is one of the most used metal for the Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. The influence of different printing directions and sample inclinations on the material mechanical behavior is assessed, with the aim of considering an innovative use in the field of structural engineering. Moreover, the effects due to scanning and recoating times are studied. In addition, the consequences of heat treatment (annealing) on both the residual stresses and the amount of residual austenite are appraised.

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Additive manufacturing is a production process in which elements and parts are created by depositing material layer-by-layer. Thanks to the rapid development of 3D printing methods, the most common metals typically used in engineering can also be employed to produce elements with outstanding structural properties. This paper shows the main outcomes of an experimental campaign focused on the mechanical characterisation of the 17-4PH stainless steel, one of the metallic materials most widely used for Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Tensile tests, carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the material, are presented. Also the effect of annealing heat treatment on the residual stresses and the amount of residual austenite is discussed.

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