Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering
Selective Laser Sintering
of thermoplastic, metal, polyamide (nylon), ceramic, or glass filled nylon. SLS offers the key advantage of making functional parts in essentially final materials, depending on use of the part.
SLS prototypes like many rapid prototyping processes are constructed from a .STL file. A .STL file is is simply a mesh of triangles wrapped around a CAD model (this was defined by 3D CAD systems in 1980s). .STLs name is derived from a rapid prototyping process, StereoLithography, also known as abbreviation of Standard Triangulation Language. This very simple format has become an industry standard for the Rapid Prototyping sector.
The Solid Models as a: (a) Solid Model, (b) an STL file, and (c) in Sliced Layers.
The process of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is somewhat similar to sterolithography, in that a prototype is produced rapidly through layering of material.
From thermoplastic powders mostly, although SLS is useful in that many different materials can be used.
A thermoplastic is a plastic that melts to a liquid when heated and freezes to a brittle, very glassy state when cooled sufficiently.
Such as, polyamide (Nylon), material allows the production of fully functional prototypes with high strength.
Glass Filled Nylon is suitable for high thermal resistance and high impact strength prototypes. SLS Somos 201 is used for functional rubber like parts.
Depending on the use of the part being constructed these parts may be functional, a capability which is exceptionally useful.
Price - Multiple pieces of the same part are much cheaper than ordering a single piece. Even various SLS models ordered at the same time as a single batch are much cheaper to make than ordering separately. Speed - It could be few hours or a day it really depends upon the build size, shape, and accuracy needed.
Size of SLS singlemade parts are generally 13.3 x 13.3 x 2. Although larger parts can be constructed by making many smaller parts to assemble, and form a larger part. The thickness of an individual SLS layer is 0.15 to 0.2 mm layer thickness, depending upon the material used.
The process of Selective Laser Sintering is actually quite simple. The entire internal system is heated to below the melting point of whatever substance is being used. So that when heat is applied by the high energy CO2 laser melts and fuses (sinters) the substance. To do this two piston-like platforms, a roller, an optical sensor, and whatever material is being used to form a part are used in co-ordination with the laser.
The first piston contains most of the substance. When this piston is raised it makes the substance available to the roller. The roller moves the material over the second piston to cover the part being constructed. The material which has been moved to the second piston will then be sintered by the laser, to form an additional layer on the part.
SLS Material
variety of different types of materials available for use in the selective laser sintering (SLS) process. The most beneficial characteristic of selective laser sintering (SLS) is how durable and functional the materials are. DuraForm and DuraForm glass-filled (GF) which are nylon based materials that create plastic prototypes. Other selective laser sintering (SLS) materials are CastForm used for investment casting patterns, selective laser sintering (SLS) Flex for elastomeric, rubber-like parts, and selective laser sintering (SLS) LaserForm which makes metal prototypes.
SLS Processing
Each of selective laser sintering (SLS) materials requires little to no post build processing to be ready to use which cuts out several steps in post processing of selective laser sintering (SLS) parts as compared to stereolithography (SLA). However, all of the selective laser sintering (SLS) materials can be finished in multiple ways to meet the desire or needs of selective laser sintering (SLS) users. Among other types of post processing, selective laser sintering (SLS) parts can be sanded, painted, plated, tapped, or even machined. This allows for a higher grade of smoothness and appearance to selective laser sintering (SLS) parts and assemblies and also gives users an unlimited number of ways to use selective laser sintering (SLS) parts.
MERITS OF SLS
Injection mould tooling (inserts). Die casting mould inserts. Other tooling, e.g. sheet metal forming, blow moulding etc. Tooling fixtures etc.
Applications of SLS
Concept model: Physical representation of design ideas, form
and style.
LENS Process
Additive process Nd-YAG laser used Free-form metal fabrication Deposition head supplies the metal powder Focus of laser beam on area to be melted Laser focusing by fibre optics or precision angled mirrors Laser focused on a particular spot by series of lens
LENS Materials
Wide variety of metals are used in this technique. Wide variety of materials that, at minimum,include: stainless steel alloys (316, 304L, 309, 17-4), maraging steel (M300), nickel-based superalloys(Inco designations 625, 600, 718, 690), tool steel alloys (H13), titanium alloy (6Al- 4V), and other specialty materials.
Impeller
Fixtures
Housing
Principle of LENS
High powered Nd-YAG laser focused onto a metal substrate creates a molten puddle on substrate surface. Powder is then injected in to molten puddle to increase material volume. A printing motion system moves platform horizontally and laterally as laser beam traces the cross-section of part. After a layer formation,the machine powder delivery nozzle moves upwards proir to building next layer.
Applications of LENS
Build mold and die inserts Producing titanium parts in racing industry Fabricate titanium components for biological implants Produce functionally gradient structures
Limited materials:
narrow focus only on metal parts
Large physical unit size: large area to house the unit High power consumption: requires
very high wattage
Bibliography
http://www.conceptual-reality.com/sls.htm http://home.att.net/~castleisland/sls_int.htm http://www.arptech.com.au/slshelp.htm http://www.me.utexas.edu/~rbarr/rapid/Types_O f_RPS.html http://www.3drg.com/our_process.php