Selective laser melting (SLM) is considered to be a highly significant additive manufacturing (AM) technology, with the capacity to produce complex shapes that would be difficult to achieve using other methods. However, the broad application of this method is limited by problems like harmful microstructures and porosity, especially during the processing of aluminum alloys. Laser shock peening (LSP) provides a promising approach to reduce the adverse effects linked to aluminium SLM. This research examines how a critical LSP parameter, specifically the number of impacts, influences AlSi10Mg parts produced by SLM. The results were assessed with porosity, microstructure, and microhardness. Results show a 72% reduction in porosity. Furthermore, microstructural analysis revealed discernible grain refinement, accompanied by enhanced hardness. Tensile testing further confirmed the effectiveness of LSP, showing increases in both ultimate tensile strength and yield strength. These results suggest that LSP can effectively address the limitations of the SLM process for demanding applications when used as a post-processing technique.
