Fig. 1. (a) Schematic of the spot-to-spot melting process: φ is the estimated beam diameter at focal point, dP is the point distance, and dH is hatch distance; (b) schematic of the meander scan strategy; (c) schematic of the scan strategy along the building direction (scan direction rotates by 67° after each layer); (d) schematic of the bars and notation.

Fig. 2. (a) Morphology of AISI 316L atomized powder, in the inset a SEM micrograph of the particle surface; (b) characteristic optical micrographs of the top section and (c) of the lateral section of built parts, (d) close up view of the lateral section, (e) and (f) SEM micrographs of built parts at higher magnifications.

Fig. 3. Orientation maps of (a) lateral and (b) top surface of a sample with respect to the building direction and corresponding inverse pole figures.

Fig. 4. (a) Stress-strain curves of samples built in horizontal and vertical direction and (b) close-up view of curves close to onset of yielding.

Fig. 5. SEM micrograph of the lateral section, microstructural defects located at track boundaries are indicated by black arrows (BD?=?Building direction, T1?=?Transversal direction 1).

Fig. 6. (a) Low and (b) high magnification views of the fracture surface of a vertical built sample; (c) oxide inclusions and (d) partially molten steel particles.

Fig. 7. (a) Low and (b) high magnification views of the fracture surface of a horizontal built sample, (c), (d) and (e) partially molten steel particles.

Fig. 8. Longitudinal sections of broken tensile specimens observed near fracture surfaces: (a) horizontal sample, (b) vertical sample. Tensile direction is vertical (BD?=?Building direction, LD?=?Loading direction).