17-4 PH Steel Parts Obtained through MEX and PBF-LB/M Technologies: Comparison of the Structural Properties

The material extrusion (MEX) method utilizing highly filled metal filament presents an alternative to advanced additive metal manufacturing technologies. This process enables the production of metal objects through deposition and sintering, which is particularly attractive compared to powder bed fusion (PBF) technologies employing lasers or high-power electron beams. PBF requires costly maintenance, skilled operators, and controlled process conditions, whereas MEX does not impose such requirements. This study compares research on 17-4 PH steel manufactured using two different commercially available techniques: MEX and powder bed fusion with laser beam melting (PBF-LB/M). This research included assessing the density of printed samples, analyzing surface roughness in two printing planes, examining microstructure including porosity and density determination, and measuring hardness. The conducted research aimed to determine the durability and quality of the obtained samples and to evaluate their strength. The research results indicated that samples produced using the PBF-LB/M technology exhibited better density and a more homogeneous structure. However, MEX samples exhibited better strength properties (hardness).