late 1999 to early 2000 (and backfills for previous years) / DB reference years
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Author O'Neill, W. Sutcliffe, C J. Morgan, R. Landsborough, A. Hon, K K B.
Source Cirp Annals. v 48 n 1 1999. p 151-154.
Abstract Research and development of laser based sintering technology has occurred at a rapid pace since its invention in the 1980s'. A wide range of materials have been developed including polymers, metals and ceramics. The ultimate goal for this technology is to provide manufacturing industries with fast and flexible means of producing parts that are truly functional. Step by step this active research area is leading towards rapid manufacturing solutions which will be significantly different from the rather limited rapid prototyping solutions of today. In processing metallic materials, porosity is still a major problem although a number of notable solutions such as infiltration with low melting point alloys or direct fusing with binary powder mixtures have been proposed. Neither of these solutions allows one to build components without compromising part strength and functionality. A process route is required that will allow solid parts to be built from a single powder component without requiring ti me consuming downstream processes. The surface quality must be consistent with those attainable by modern machining techniques. To this end, the present work examines the feasibility of using low energy high peak power laser pulses from a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to melt stainless steel powder fractions whilst examining the melt displacement and the effects of rapid vaporisation of the powder layer. (Auth abstract) [References: 8] XX