Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technique enables to manufacture complex parts and difficult-to-cut materials with saving the material costs and manufacturing time. However, there still has been technical challenges and qualities issues for LPBF products to be used in engineering applications. In order to obtain the high-quality surface products including minimal defects and voids, this study systematically investigated and determined LPBF manufacturing process and post-processing using a 17-4PH stainless steel. It was experimentally found that design of LPBF process conditions could only attain the densification of as-built products, while surface qualities were not as good as commercial products. Therefore, the post-processing was indispensably explored by conducting mechanical polishing, physical vapor deposition coating, and hot isostatic pressing for the high surface quality and densification of as-built specimens. The surface qualities of the specimens, fabricated with optimum volumetric energy density of 97.66 J/mm³, were carefully characterized for their surface roughness, gloss, surface energy and frictional behaviors. After the post-processing, the surface roughness and gloss were dramatically improved by more than 800% over the as-built parts, and the porosity was reduced by up to 57.8%. This study demonstrates that optimum LPBF process and post-processing could enhance the qualities of LPBF products up to the same or beyond level of commercial products, comparing the defects, roughness, gloss, and touch sensation. The LPBF technique coupled with post-processing, if optimized, can show the great potential for the use in a wide variety of real-world engineering applications including mobile phones, jewelry, electronic appliances, artificial teeth and bones.

激光粉末床融合（LPBF）技术能够制造复杂零件和难切割材料，节省材料成本和制造时间。然而，LPBF 产品在工程应用中仍然存在技术挑战和质量问题。为了获得包括最小缺陷和空隙的高质量表面产品，本研究系统地调查和确定了使用 17-4PH 不锈钢的 LPBF 制造工艺和后处理。实验发现LPBF工艺条件的设计只能达到成品的致密化，而表面质量不如商业产品。因此，对后处理进行机械抛光、物理气相沉积镀膜、和热等静压，以实现高表面质量和竣工试样的致密化。样品的表面质量，以 97.66 J/mm 的最佳体积能量密度制造³ , 仔细表征了它们的表面粗糙度、光泽度、表面能和摩擦行为。后处理后，表面粗糙度和光泽度比竣工件大幅提高了800%以上，孔隙率降低了57.8%。本研究表明，通过比较缺陷、粗糙度、光泽度和触感，最佳的 LPBF 工艺和后处理可以将 LPBF 产品的质量提高到与商业产品相同或更高的水平。LPBF 技术与后处理相结合，如果经过优化，可以显示出在各种实际工程应用中的巨大潜力，包括手机、珠宝、电子设备、人造牙齿和骨骼。