Plasma‐Electrolytic Polishing as a Post‐Processing Technology for Additively Manufactured Parts

Additive manufacturing (AM) as a key enabling technology provides new options for engineering design of complex parts. Freeform shapes, grid‐like structures and internal cavities enable functional integration, reducing assembly and space requirements and increasing reliability. Metal AM technologies, however, require post‐processing in order to achieve acceptable surface roughness and ‐functionality. Plasma‐electrolytic polishing can, due to its toolless nature and excellent achievable surface properties, be a beneficial option.