Laser Sintering
“Selective laser sintering(SLS) is an additive manufacturing technique that uses a high power laser (for example, a carbon dioxide laser) to fuse small particles of plastic, metal (direct metal laser sintering), ceramic, or glass powders into a mass that has a desired 3-dimensional shape. The laser selectively fuses powdered material by scanning cross-sections generated from a 3-D digital description of the part (for example from a CAD file or scan data) on the surface of a powder bed. After each cross-section is scanned, the powder bed is lowered by one layer thickness, a new layer of material is applied on top, and the process is repeated until the part is completed.” (Wikipedia, Laser Sintering, 5/20/2011)
Fabrication
Polyaryletherketone (PAEK) Powders
Rapid Prototyping
Recent US Patents
2/15/2011
7,887,316
Selective laser sintering powder recycle system
Cox of 3D Systems has developed a method and apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects by laser sintering that includes the use of dense phase pneumatic conveying to internally recycle overflow powder, and to thoroughly blend overflow, recovered and virgin powder to provide a consistent powder feed mix to a laser sintering machine. Overflow powder from the laser sintering machine is recovered and recycled back into the laser sintering machine for reuse. The approach results in a compact and reliable powder recycle system with complete blending and minimum attrition to the handled powder. (RDC 8/25/2011)
2/1/2011
7,879,282
Method and apparatus for combining particulate material
Hopkinson and Erasenthiran of Loughborough University, Great Britain, developed a method of rapid prototyping by sintering with radiation by controlling the intensity of the radiation area by area. (RDC 8/17/2011)