Computer software plays an important role in the implementation of Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF) technologies. This paper describes a software testbed for processing part geometry for a particular SFF technology, selective laser sintering (SLS), that is built around the separation of the slicing and rasterization operations to accommodate geometric information from a variety of sources. The ...

Wood-plastic composites (WPCs) made by selective laser sintering (SLS) approach of 3D printing offer many advantages over single polymer materials, such as low cost, sustainability, and better sintering accuracy. However, WPCs made via SLS are too weak to have widespread applications. In order to increase the mechanical properties of WPCs, a novel type of WPCs containing 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15 w...

High Speed Sintering (HSS) is an emerging layer manufacturing technique aiming to break into the lucrative field of Rapid Manufacturing (RM). The process is likened to Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), however, instead of a laser dictating the sintered cross sectional area of each layer, the desired area is first printed using a Radiation Absorbing Material (RAM) and then sintered using an inexp...

Recently, high-performance lightweight materials with outstanding mechanical properties have opened up their way to some sophisticated industrial applications. As one of these systems, aluminum matrix composites/nanocomposites (AMCs) offer an outstanding combination of relative density, hardness, wear resistance, and mechanical strength. Until now, several additive manufacturing methods have be...

The effects of powder particle size on the densification and microstructure of iron powder in the direct laser sintering process were investigated. Iron powders with particle sizes ranging from 10 to 200 m were used. It was found that the sintered density increases as the laser energy input is increased. There is, however, a saturation level at which higher density cannot be obtained even at ve...

The thermal influence of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the PA12 in the laser sintering process was assessed by physical experiments and a three dimensional simulation model. It appears that, by adding the CNTs into the PA12 matrix, the thermal conductivity increased. A double ellipsoidal heat flux model was applied to input a three dimensional, continuous moving, volumetric laser heat source. The ...

The direct write technology provides an interesting opportunity for plugging blind via holes as a more precise alternative to currently used screen printing processes. This technology provides a complete, void-less filling of the via and fabrication of the interconnects extending from the via in one single step. After deposition, the material is heat treated (sintered) to densify into a highly ...

A new miniature high-pressure diamond anvil cell was designed and constructed using 3D micro laser sintering technology. This is the first application of the use of rapid prototyping technology to construct high-pressure apparatus. The cell is specifically designed for use as an X-ray diffraction cell that can be used with commercially available diffractometers and open-flow cryogenic equipment...

Method: Pre-operative computed tomography (CT) scan data of the pilot study (mandible affected by ameloblastoma) are elaborated to produce a virtual surgical plan including osteotomy sites, entity of bone resection and therefore reconstruction. STL files are produced for a cutting guide and a bone plate. The cutting guide and the bone plate of the device are finally constructed by Direct Metal ...