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- Additive manufacturing (2)
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- Selective laser sintering (1)
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Most additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have in common that material is spread out as thin layers of a dried powder/granulate by a roller or a shaker system. These layers are mostly characterized by a low packing rate. On the other hand, appreciable densities can be reached by the use of ceramic slurries. In this context, the layer-wise slurry deposition (LSD) has been developed. Specific features of the LSD process are reflected on the basis of already existing additive manufacturing technologies. The microstructure of laser-sintered bodies will be discussed, and strategies for an improved microstructure during sintering will be introduced.
The most successful additive manufacturing (AM) technologies are based on the layer-by-layer deposition of a flowable powder. Although considered as the third industrial revolution, one factor still limiting these processes to become completely autonomous is the often necessary build-up of support structures. Besides the prevention of lateral shifts of the part during the deposition of layers, the support assures quality and stability to the built process. The loose powder itself surrounding the built object, or so-called powder-bed, does not provide this sustenance in most existent technology available. Here we present a simple but effective and economical method for stabilizing the powder-bed, preventing distortions in the geometry with no need for support structures. This effect, achieved by applying an air flow through the powder-bed, is enabling an entirely autonomous generation of parts and is a major contribution to all powder-based additive manufacturing technologies. Moreover, it makes powder-based AM independent of gravitational forces, which will facilitate crafting items in space from a variety of powdery materials.
The production of agglomerate-free SiO2 particles exhibiting a monomodal distribution of particle sizes of around 300 nm by means of direct laser fuming of micrometric SiO2 powders has been successfully demonstrated. With a 12 kW cw CO2 laser system, a production rate of up to 1 kilogram powder per hour was achieved. Almost ideal spherical amorphous SiO2 particles in a broad particle size distribution between 10 nm and several 100 nm (d50 ≈ 300 nm) were synthesized. Several observations suggest weak agglomeration forces between the particles. A temperature reduction of 200 °C for sintering powder compacts was observed.
Selective laser sintering of ceramic powders is a promising technique for the additive manufacturing of complex- and delicate-shaped ceramic parts. Most techniques have in common that the powder to be sintered is spread to a thin layer as a dry powder by means of a roller or shaker system. These layers have a relatively low density. On the other hand, appreciable densities can be reached with the use of ceramic slurries as the starting material. Therefore, the layer-wise slurry deposition (LSD) process has been developed. Layer stacks, i.e. powder beds, built up by employing the LSD technology exhibit a density comparable to ceramic powder compacts processed by means of conventional forming technologies. Writing the layer information with a focused laser beam in these dense ceramic powder compacts enables the manufacture of ceramic bodies with a high density and precision in contour.