Multi-step laser polishing for laser deposition manufacturing formed Ti-6Al-4V alloy

The surface quality of components produced by laser deposition manufacturing is poor and requires subsequent surface treatment. Laser polishing is an effective method for reducing the surface roughness of parts produced by laser deposition. This study employs a multistep laser polishing approach to polish the surfaces of Ti-6Al-4V samples, analyzing the effects on surface morphology, microstructure, and mechanical properties. The results indicate that laser polishing significantly decreases surface roughness, reducing it from an initial Sa 33.79 μm to Sa 4.79 μm (85.8% reduction). Compared to samples produced by laser deposition alone, the microhardness of the polished samples increased by 27.8% and wear depth decreased by 28%, both longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths improved by 10.5%.