Direct metal laser sintering

Indirect tooling methods are many. Examples include cast aluminum, investment metal cast, cast plastics, cast kirksite, sprayed steel, spin-castings, plaster casting, electroforming, room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone elastomer (Chapter 2 Silicone Elastomer), elastomer/ rubber, reaction injection, stereolithography,338 344 (Table 17.4), direct metal laser sintering, and laminate construction. 

The advent of RP/SFF technology, adapted to meet the needs of the jewelry industry, is having a substantial impact. It has also developed into a RM (Rapid Manufacturing) approach, for example, by use of direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) of powders (see later) [83,84]. 

FIGURE 9.16 Parts produced by Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) (Courtesy of EOS Ltd). 

Parts produced by the direct metal laser sintering process. 

MANUFACTURING OF PLASTIC LENS MOLD CONFORMAL COOLING CHANNEL USING DIRECT METAL LASER SINTERING AND SPRAY-FORMED TOOLING... 

Lens mold. Direct Metal Laser Sintering, Infiared camera. Rapid Spray-formed Tooling, Injection molding... 

H. P. Park, B. S. Cha, et al.. Production of pre-form mold by Direct Metal Laser Sintering(DMLS) process. Fall meeting of KSPE, pp. 197-198(2006). 

Fig. 3. Schematics of DMLS(Direct Metal Laser Sintering) process.

Another method of adjusting cooling channels to a complex mold is selective laser sintering, which makes it possible to build almost all metallic materials in layers. Single-component metal powder is layer by layer completely melted. A component density of nearly 100% is thereby achieved. High surface quality and hardness is achieved through a special surface treatment process that directly follows the construction process. 

Some ceramics and metals may be sintered directly, taking advantage of the high laser power output offered by spedal SLS equipment. Ceramic powders for direct sintering indude... 

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