Synthesis of Polymer Nanocomposites for Selective Laser Sintering （SLS）

This paper presents initial development of polymer application. PNC materials containing a polyamide （PA） and nano to improve the mechanical properties. Commercial polyamide 6 nanocomposites （PNC） material for rapid manufacturing （RM） particles （5 wt%） were produced by solution blending with the aim （PA6） was dissolved in formic acid （HCO2H） together with two different types of nano particle materials： yttrium stabilised zirconia （YSZ） and Hectorite clay （Benton 166） and spray-dried to create powder, creating powder with particle sizes in the range of 10-40 μm. The materials were processed on a CO2 selective laser sintering （SLS） experimental machine. Mechanical properties of the PNCs were evaluated and the results were compared with the unfilled base polymer. Good dispersion of additives was achieved by solution blending, however the PA6 was degraded during the material preparation and spray drying process which resulted in the formation of porous structure and low strength. However the addition of 5 （wt%） nano particles in the PA6 has shown to increase strength by an average of 50-60%. Further work on powder preparation is required in order to fully realize these performance benefits.

Preparation of coated sand for selective laser sintering and optimization of baking process of sand moulds

A cold method was used to prepare coated sand for application in the selective laser sintering(SLS)process.Tensile strength,loss on ignition,gas evolution,and accuracy of the SLS samples were tested and analyzed,and the baking process was thoroughly investigated.Compared with coated sand prepared by the hot method,the cold method yields a more uniform and complete resin film on the sand's surface,resulting in enhanced tensile strength and accuracy.Additionally,the cold method requires a lower binder content to meet the same strength requirements,thereby minimizing gas evolution,reducing porosity defects,and ultimately improving casting quality.The coated sand samples prepared through the cold method exhibit superior accuracy,with a size error of within±0.4 mm.In contrast,the coated sand samples prepared by the hot method display a lower accuracy,with an average negative error of 2.1993 mm.The highest tensile strength could be attained by controlling the baking temperature within a suitable range(180-190°C),which can effectively reduce the generation of gas,thus contributing to improved overall performance.

Direct Slicing Based on Material Performance and Process Parameters for Selective Laser Sintering

Direct slicing from GAD models to generate sectional contours of the part to be sintered for Selective Laser Sintering （SLS） may overcome inherent disadvantages of using a Stereo Lithography （STL） format. In this paper, a direct slicing procedure is proposed for Selective Laser Sintering based on material performance and process parameters. Slicing thickness depends on the 3 D geometric model, material performance and process parameters. The relationship among material performance, process parameters and the largest slicing thickness is established using analysis of a sintering temperature field. A dynamic linked library is developed to realize direct slicing from a CAD model.

Morphology and Mechanical Properties of PS/Al_2O_3 Nanocomposites Based on Selective Laser Sintering

Selective laser sintering （SLS） is a new process to prepare the polystyrene （PS）/Al2O3 nanocomposites. In this paper, with different laser power and other processing parameters unchanged, the morphology, density and mechanical properties of the sintered specimens were investigated. It was found that nano-sized inorganic particles are uniformly located in the PS matrix and the maximum density of the sintered specimens with pure PS powder reaches 1.07 g/cm^3, higher than 1.04 g/cm^3 that of the sintered specimens with mixture powder. Due to strengthening and toughness of the nano-sized Al2O3 inorganic particles, the maximum notched impact strength and tensile strength of the sintered part mixed with nano-sized inorganic particles are improved greatly from 7.5 to 12.1 kJ/m^2 and from 6.5 to 31.2 MPa, respectively, under the same sintering condition.

Prediction of Sintering Strength for Selective Laser Sintering of Polystyrene Using Artificial Neural Network

In the present work,a study is made to investigate the effects of process parameters,namely,laser power,scanning speed,hatch spacing, layer thickness and powder temperature, on the tensile strength for selective laser sintering( SLS) of polystyrene( PS). Artificial neural network( ANN) methodology is employed to develop mathematical relationships between the process parameters and the output variable of the sintering strength. Experimental data are used to train and test the network. The present neural network model is applied to predicting the experimental outcome as a function of input parameters within a specified range. Predicted sintering strength using the trained back propagation( BP) network model showed quite a good agreement with measured ones. The results showed that the networks had high processing speed,the abilities of error-correcting and self-organizing. ANN models had favorable performance and proved to be an applicable tool for predicting sintering strength SLS of PS.

IGNITING SHS BY LASER AND ITS APPLICATION TO SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING OF METALLIC POWDER MATERIAL

How to directly fabricate metallic functional parts with selective laser sintering (SLS) process is a potential technique that scientists are researching. Existent problems during directly fabricating metal part by use of SLS are analyzed. For the sake of solving the problems, a new idea of adding self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) material into metallic powder material to form new type of SLS metallic powder material is put forward. This powder material can release controllable amount of heat during its interaction with the laser beam energy to reduce the requirement to laser power during directly sintering metallic part, to prolong the time of metallic liquid phase existing, and to improve the intensity and accuracy of SLS part. For this reason, SHS material′s interaction with the CO2 laser beam energy is researched, which proves that CO2 laser beam energy may instantly ignite SHS reaction. On the basis of the above-mentioned researches, the effect of sintering the metal powder material mixing SHS material with CO2 laser is also researched, which shows: there is an optimal blending ratio of various material in the new metallic powder material. Under the optimal blending ratio and SLS process parameters, this new metallic powder material can indeed release amount of heat and SHS reaction may be controlled within the laser sintering. This research result makes it possible that the metallic part is directly sintered with small CO2 laser (less than 50W), which may greatly reduce the volume, cost and running expenditure of SLS machine, be propitious to application.

Selective laser sintering mechanism of polymer-coated molybdenum powder

A type of polymer-coated molybdenum powder used in selective laser sintering technology was prepared by coating polymer on molybdenum particles and frozen grinding techniques, with the maximum particle diameter of 71 μm. The laser sintering experiments of polymer-coated molybdenum powder were conducted by using the self-developed selective laser sintering machine (HLRP-350I). The method of microscopic analysis was used to investigate the dynamic laser sintering process of polymer-coated molybdenum powder. Based on the study, the laser sintering mechanisms of polymer-coated molybdenum powder were presented. It is found that the mechanism is viscous flow when the laser sintering temperature is between 100 ℃ and 160 ℃, which can be described by a two-sphere model; and the mechanism is melting /solidification when the temperature is above 160 ℃.

SLS成形件的收缩模型和翘曲模型

快速成形的精度是快速成形技术发展和扩大其应用领域的关键 ,工艺误差是影响成形精度的关键之一 ,而成形件收缩和翘曲对其工艺精度起决定性的作用。通过建立 SL S成形过程的收缩模型研究了 SLS加工中成形件的收缩形式以及收缩规律 ,同时研究了收缩的不均匀性所引起的翘曲 ,建立了成形件的翘曲模型。发现烧结收缩与烧结程度密切相关 ,翘曲量与烧结收缩率成正比 ,与零件线尺寸成正比。这些研究结果为克服 SL S加工收缩引起的误差和收缩补偿提供了依据 ,为减少翘曲变形提供了一种方法。

SLS成型机的粉末预热过程研究

对成型机工作腔的一般预热方法的预热过程进行了分析 ,研究了辐射预热的热流密度对粉末预热温度的影响 ,提出了热流密度场模型 ,并与实验测得的预热温度场进行了比较 。

基于SLS原型的快速(重力)铸造工艺

结合SLS快速成形和铸造工艺可以实现金属零件的快速铸造。根据原型材料可熔融和烧失的特性,制定了类似于熔模铸造的快速铸造工艺方案。讨论了快速金属铸件的特点,对快速铸造工艺提出了成功率高、成形性好和性能较高的要求。分析了面向金属零件快速铸造的重力铸造工艺并以实例说明,顶注式浇注系统适用于结构简单且高度不大的快速零件,而阶梯式浇注系统适用于中大型和复杂程度较高的铸件。

基于SLS烧结覆膜砂工艺参数对成型尺寸精度的影响规律

研究了激光功率P、扫描速度V和预热温度T对SLS烧结覆膜砂制件尺寸的影响。结果表明,随着激光功率增加,成型尺寸呈增大趋势;当激光功率为55.5 W时成型平面XY方向尺寸精度较高;成型尺寸随着扫描速度增加越来越小,当扫描速度为3 500 mm/s时成型平面XY尺寸精度较高;当预热温度小于60℃时,预热温度对尺寸精度影响不大,当预热温度大于60℃时,成型尺寸随着预热温度的增加而增大。

SLS激光快速成形烧结层厚的选取

分析了SLS成形制件典型表面直线边和曲线边的表面轮廓算术平均偏差Ra。根据Ra 反求出烧结最佳层厚。给出了CAD模型切片和烧结时 ,切片厚度和烧结层厚的选取方法。可根据本方法有目的地控制成形制件的表面粗糙度 ,开发变层厚烧结控制系统 ,调整CAD模型的切片位姿 ,从而最大限度地减小成形误差 。

提高SLS覆膜砂铸型(芯)强度的措施

分析了影响覆膜砂铸型（芯）烧结强度的因素，详细地讨论了提高选择性激光烧结（ＳＬＳ）覆膜砂铸型（芯）烧结强度的各种措施。从烧结方式上探讨了如何既提高ＳＬＳ制件强度、又保证制件的成形速度和精度的问题。

SLS工艺制造的高分子原型材料选择

面向快速铸造工艺的激光选择性烧结(SLS)工艺制造可以制造可烧蚀的高分子快速原型,结合熔模铸造工艺能够实现金属零件的无模快速铸造。选择既适合激光烧结工艺又满足铸造要求的高分子材料是快速铸造工艺的前提。在系统地比较和分析了常用高分子材料的特性,并进行了粉末激光烧结实验后,选择了聚苯乙烯(PS)材料作为快速铸造用SLS原型的粉末原材料。

选区激光烧结用覆膜锆砂的制备及其SLS成形工艺研究

采用冷、热法制备了覆膜锆砂,并进行了选区激光烧结成形工艺研究,着重探讨了单层扫描面积和激光功率对SLS覆膜锆砂砂型抗拉强度的影响。结果表明:在树脂含量相等条件下,相对于冷法,热法制备的覆膜锆砂的SLS成形砂型抗拉强度明显更高;单层扫描面积对覆膜锆砂砂型抗拉强度影响显著,随着扫描面积的增大,在同样烧结参数下,其成形初强度由0.27 MPa迅速下降到0.04 MPa;而激光功率是决定覆膜锆砂砂型抗拉强度的关键因素,115/170目覆膜锆砂粘结剂含量为2%的条件下,扫描面积约1 900 mm^2,合适的激光功率为35 W,成功制备覆膜锆砂砂型,并浇注出轮廓清晰、表面光亮的钛合金铸件。

SLS中激光功率与扫描速度匹配的优化设计

预热温度、扫描速度、激光功率、铺粉厚度是影响激光烧结成形性能的主要因素。在一定的实验条件下,从激光能量分布和激光烧结机理出发,指出在烧结过程中激光功率与激光扫描速度是影响烧结温度的直接因素,并推导出激光功率与激光扫描速度匹配的理论模型。通过计算机模拟同实验结合来优化扫描速度、激光功率,对进一步提高成形件的尺寸精度和改善烧结件的强度具有一定的理论指导意义。

基于SLS的随形冷却通道注射模间接快速制造技术

介绍了在广泛考察国内外制造随形冷却通道注射模技术的基础上,摈弃普遍采用的直接制模技术,提出将选择性激光烧结(SLS)技术和铸造工艺相结合,间接快速制造随形冷却通道注射模的新的制造工艺方法。利用SLS技术对腹膜砂和环氧树脂混加的材料成型注射模的布尔结构铸造砂型,对砂型进行后处理后,浇注铝合金形成模具铸件,最后对模具铸件进行清粉和后处理,完成注射模制造。同传统的随形水路模具制造技术相比较,本方法能成型较为复杂的随形冷却通道,并且由于直接用铝合金铸造成模具,其致密度、强度和尺寸精度相比较传统的脱脂、高温烧结和低温浸渍改性的环氧树脂等工艺方法得到的模具性能大幅度提高。该注射模寿命可达50 000次/副,强度可达588 MPa。从塑件质量可以得出,此工艺是一种快速制造适合小批量生产注射模的切实可行的方法。

热像仪建立覆膜砂SLS过程激光能量输入模型研究

利用热像仪，通过计算机自动控制，对覆膜砂选择性激光烧结（SLS）过程的温度场进行了测定和研究，避开了使用传统测温方法的各种干扰及缺点．通过对热像仪测温结果的研究，确定了覆膜砂SLS成型的合适的工艺参数范围：扫描速度10mm／s，激光功率16～20W·根据热像仪测温结果，结合ANSYS数值模拟计算，建立了覆膜砂SLS过程的激光能量输入模型．该模型考虑了扫描过程中激光与覆膜砂相互作用的因素，用于预测不同的工艺参数对覆膜砂SLS成型过程的影响，为进一步分析各种成型工艺变化对覆膜砂固结效果的影响，以及激光快速成型工艺的计算机优化奠定了基础．

SLS覆膜砂成型件后处理强度研究

采用优选的烧结工艺参数烧结成型覆膜砂样件,研究了SLS覆膜砂烧结件后处理工艺,并测试了原件和后处理件的拉伸强度。结果表明:后处理温度为180℃,保温时间为6h时SLS覆膜砂成型件强度最大,最大平均抗拉强度为3.831 MPa,是原件的9.55倍,后处理件的强度满足了铸造生产要求。