2001 / Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings
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Author J.A. Ramos, J. Murphy, K. Wood, D.L. Bourell, J.J. Beaman Mechanical Engineering Department Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712
Source Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings, 2001, pp 28-38
Abstract Laser polishing by means of shallow surface melting of indirect-SLS metal parts was achieved using high power CO2 and Nd:YAG lasers raster scanned at high speed. This was an effective technique for reducing surface roughness. The fast moving laser beam provides just enough heat energy to cause melting of the surface peaks. The molten mass then flows into the surface valleys by surface tension, gravity and laser pressure, thus diminishing the roughness. Surface roughness Ra data were obtained by profilometry measurements of the polished samples. An analytical model was developed based on the assumption that the surface of an SLS part consists of semi-spherical caps. The model was used to predict the Ra values as a function of laser power, scan speed and precursor powder particle size. The modeled results fit the empirical data within a 15% error. (Auth abstract) [References: 12] XX
Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings can be obtained from: The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
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The University of Texas at Austin
Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication / Texas Materials Institute
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
c/o The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
MC C2200
Austin, TX 78712-1063 USA
512-471-3026; 512-471-7681 FX; Email: sffsymp@uts.cc.utexas.edu