Tribological Study on Burnished Surface of Additive Manufactured C300 Metal

This study evaluates the effect of the vibration assisted ball burnishing method on surface integrity of maraging C300 steel surfaces printed by additive manufacturing with Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. The analysis contemplates variations in tool preloads and applied force. The analyzed C300 material is based on the as-built (AM), machined (M) and vibration assisted ball burnishing (VABB) states. Surface roughness was evaluated to assess topographical conditions both before and after the burnishing process. Microstructure and mechanical deformation were analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) technique to examine the stresses generated by compression effect. It was found that forces in the range of 180 to 220 N reduce the roughness Sa value by up to 59% with respect to the M finish and up to 97% with respect to the AM finish. Furthermore, burnishing parameters significantly vary the final quality of the surfaces depending on the initial state of the surface and the conditions of the material.