Generative Laser Processes

This chapter is organized in five sections. The first reviews the various lasers used in laser micromachining and the principles of interaction of laser light with matter. The second section gives examples of laser ablation of polymers and their applications. Two other sections are devoted to surface modification and generative laser processes based on layered manufacturing. Finally, a number of other laser-based processes are presented, before concluding. 

Laser-based generative processes such as stereolithography and selective laser sintering are part of a group of techniques commonly known as layered manufacturing . These are rapid prototyping techniques that build up a 3D object (or physical model) layer by layer. They are used in fields like mechanical engineering, and more recently in medicine and health care, as they are fast and cost effective techniques for the manufacture of 3D parts. 

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