Modeling the surface hardness of metal materials produced by 3D selective laser melting

Calì, Michele (author), Babič, Matej (author), Baiamonte, Giuliana (author), Magnano, Sebastiano (author), Šturm, Roman (author)

The present study introduces a novel approach for pattern recognition to analyze the surface hardness of metal parts made by 3D selective laser melting (SLM). A printed part’s hardness is further influenced by post-processing, printing parameters, and post-print material handling. Layer by layer, material is deposited in 3D printing, sometimes referred to as additive manufacturing, to turn a digital design into a tangible product. More complex and adaptable designs are possible because 3D printing adds material rather than removes it, in contrast to conventional manufacturing techniques (such as machining or molding). The current work models the surface hardness of 3D selective laser melting of metal materials using genetic programming and network theory. To assess the hardness of 3D selective laser melting of metal materials, we introduce a novel pattern recognition technique. We apply fractal geometry analysis to determine the complexity of 3D selective laser melting of metal materials.

• Language: English
• Keywords: additive manufacturing, selective laser melting, surface hardness, fractal geometry, network theory, genetic programming
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 8 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-179055
• UDC: 620.1/.2:004.45
• ISSN on article: 0268-3768
• DOI: 10.1007/s00170-025-17268-y
• COBISS.SI-ID: 267320835
• Publication date in RUL: 04.02.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of advanced manufacturing technology
• Shortened title: Int. j. adv. manuf. technol.
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 0268-3768
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25636352

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.