Selective laser micro sintering with a novel process

Abstract

Microparts with a structural resolution of <30μm and aspect ratios of >12 have been generated by selective laser sintering. The technique includes sintering under conditions of vacuum or reduced shield gas pressures. In a novel set-up the material is processed by a Q-switched 1064nm Nd-YAG laser after a special raking procedure. The procedure allows the work pieces to be generated from powders of high melting metals like tungsten as well as lower melting metals like aluminium and copper. Contingent on the parameters, the generated bodies are either firmly attached to the substrate or can be dissevered by a non-destructive method.