Researchers at Fudan University, China, reviewed the fundamental mechanisms and recent developments in the selective laser sintering (SLS) of polymers, which is of great help for researchers to learn more about the fantastic additive manufacturing method of polymers. The review is published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing.
The binding mechanism of polymers in SLS was introduced based on the Frenkel-Eshelby model when assuming that the particle radius is constant. Further, the typical applications of the SLS polymers parts have been studied, considering the biomedical, pharmaceutical, electronic applications and so on. Finally, future research was summarized based on the above.
"Laser sintering resin is an extremely complex process because of the combination of optics, materials science, chemistry, and thermal disciplines. To obtain parts with superior physical and mechanical properties, it is necessary to deeply understand the sintering mechanism, the influence of process parameters, and the optimization of the sintering process," lead author Professor Wei Han said.
"Laser sintered parts have been widely used in automobiles, medical devices, and daily necessities," said Prof. Lingbao Kong, professor at Shanghai Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing Engineering Research Center of Fudan University.
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Laser inversion enables multi-materials 3D printing
Additive manufacturing -- or 3D printing -- uses digital manufacturing processes to fabricate components that are light, strong, and require no special tooling to produce. Over the past decade, the field has experienced staggering growth, at a rate of more than 20% per year, printing pieces that range from aircraft components and car parts to medical and dental implants out of metals and engineering polymers. One of the most widely used manufacturing processes, selective laser sintering (SLS), prints parts out of micron-scale material powders using a laser: the laser heats the particles to the point where they fuse together to form a solid mass.
"Additive manufacturing is key to economic resilience," say Hod Lipson, James and Sally Scapa Professor of Innovation (Mechanical Engineering). "All of us care about this technology -- it's going to save us. But there's a catch."
The catch is that SLS technologies have been limited to printing with a single material at a time: the entire part has to be made of just that one powder. "Now, let me ask you," Lipson continues, "how many products are made of just one material? The limitations of printing in only one material has been haunting the industry and blocking its expansion, preventing it from reaching its full potential."
Wondering how to solve this challenge, Lipson and his PhD student John Whitehead used their expertise in robotics to develop a new approach to overcome these SLS limitations. By inverting the laser so that it points upwards, they invented a way to enable SLS to use -- at the same time -- multiple materials. Their working prototype, along with a print sample that contained two different materials in the same layer, was recently published online by Additive Manufacturing as part of its December 2020 issue.
Laser-welded sugar: Sweet way to 3D-print blood vessels
Intricate sugar networks dissolve to create pathways for blood in lab-grown tissues
Powdered sugar is the special ingredient in a Rice University recipe for mimicking the body's intricate, branching blood vessels in lab-grown tissues.
In research published today in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, Rice bioengineers showed they could keep densely packed cells alive for two weeks in relatively large constructs by creating complex blood vessel networks from templates of 3D-printed sugar.
"One of the biggest hurdles to engineering clinically relevant tissues is packing a large tissue structure with hundreds of millions of living cells," said study lead author Ian Kinstlinger, a bioengineering graduate student in Rice's Brown School of Engineering. "Delivering enough oxygen and nutrients to all the cells across that large volume of tissue becomes a monumental challenge."
Kinstlinger explains that nature solved this problem through the evolution of complex vascular networks, which weave through our tissues and organs in patterns reminiscent of tree limbs. The vessels simultaneously become smaller in thickness but greater in number as they branch away from a central trunk, allowing oxygen and nutrients to be efficiently delivered to cells throughout the body.
"By developing new technologies and materials to mimic naturally occurring vascular networks, we're getting closer to the point that we can provide oxygen and nutrients to a sufficient number of cells to get meaningful long-term therapeutic function," Kinstlinger said.
NUST MISIS scientists have proposed a technology that can double the strength of composites obtained by 3-D printing from aluminum powder, and advance the characteristics of these products to the quality of titanium alloys: titanium's strength is about six times higher than that of aluminum, but the density of titanium is 1.7 times higher.
The developed modifiers for 3-D printing can be used in products for the aerospace industry.
The developed modifying-precursors, based on nitrides and aluminum oxides and obtained through combustion, have become the basis of the new composite. The research results have been published in the highly rated scientific journal Sustainable Materials and Technologies.
Two decades ago, molding was considered the only cost-effective way to manufacture bulk products. Today, 3-D printers for metal are a worthy competitor to metallurgical methods. 3-D printers have a chance to replace traditional methods of metallurgical production in the future. Using additive technologies with 3-D printing creates a whole array of advantages, from creating more difficult forms and designs to the technology's cheaper cost and theoretical edge.
One of the many different methods of additive manufacturing, that can itself be divided into different techniques, powder bed fusion (PBF) is a process of creating a three dimensional part by using heat such as that from a laser or an electron beam to melt and fuse powdered material together. It generally begins by spreading a thin layer of material over the build platform, then fusing that layer together. A new layer of material is placed, and fused, and so on until the final part is created.
Powder bed fusion can be roughly split into about five common techniques: direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), electron beam melting (EBM), selective heat sintering (SHS), selective laser melting (SLM), and selective laser sintering (SLS). As a method of additive manufacturing it is, in general, relatively inexpensive, does not require support structures while making models or parts, is good for visual models and prototypes, with a large range of material options, but has size limitations, requires high power usage, and the finish of the material is dependent upon the powder grain size.
With these limitations, PBF is mostly used for prototyping applications, such as creating 3D models from thermoplastics. However, as additive manufacturing grows as an industry, so do the potential applications for PBF parts: products for medical implants and aerospace components are two such applications that different PBF techniques have been used to create.
Check under the read more for sources and more information on the different types of powder bed fusion.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a powder bed fusion technique that can be used on a wide variety of materials, including thermoplastics, glass, metals, and ceramics - it is the most common PBF technique, developed and patented in the mid 1980s. SLS fuses powders together without melting them, using high powered lasers that are typically too expensive (and potentially too dangerous) for home use.
Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is essentially the same thing as SLS, but specifically for metals.
Selective laser metling (SLM) is also similar, and considered a subcategory of SLS - while SLS only sinters the material, fusing it together, SLM melts the material, creating a final homogeneous product. SLM results in reduced porosity and allows for a greater control over the crystal structure of the material than SLS, but is only used for single metal powders, given that alloys have a range of melting temperatures. It is often faster than SLS, but requires an inert gas atmosphere.
Selective heat sintering (SHS) can be considered a cheaper (and potentially smaller) variety of SLS. Instead of using an expensive laser to sinter the material, SHS uses a thermal print head, saving money and allowing the equipment to be scaled down to desktop size. SHS can only be used on thermoplastic powders, given the lower intensity of its heat source, and is good for concept prototypes.
Finally, the last common PBF technique is electron beam melting (EBM). EBM is used with metal powders and, like SLM, achieves full melting of the material in question - though it uses an electron beam instead of a laser (it can also be used on ceramics and ceramic-metal composites). Because of the method of heating, and the even temperatures of the layers during fusion, EBM can create high quality parts, such as those used in aerospace and medical applications. This technique is commonly used for refractory and reactive metals, such as titanium, molybdenum, zirconium, and their alloys, among others. However, EBM requires a vacuum chamber to function, and a support structure during the fabrication of parts, and is more expensive than other techniques.
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SLS Prototyping Services in Bangalore for Industrial Applications
Understanding SLS Prototyping Services
SLS prototyping services use Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), an advanced 3D printing technology, to create strong, precise, and complex parts layer by layer. Ideal for rapid prototyping, functional testing, and low-volume production, SLS allows designers and engineers to turn concepts into durable components without the limitations of traditional manufacturing.
Key Features of SLS Prototyping Services:
Durable Materials: Nylon-based powders such as PA11, PA12, and PA2200 have strong properties, elasticity, and thermal resistance.
Complex Designs: Designs that form complex shapes and do not need support structures to save on post-processing time.
High Precision: Best in parts, tooling, and prototypes, providing precision of dimension.
Fast Production: Layer by layer ensures fast turnaround of small-session/custom parts.
Custom Finishing: Customers can have their products polished, painted, coated, textured, and electroplated to make them look and feel good.
How SLS Prototyping Works:
The build platform is coated with powder and preheated.
The part is built up in layers by selectively fusing the powder with a laser.
A new layer is added, and the process is repeated with platform lowers.
Components are cooled, cleaned, and sandblasted and can be finished to be colored or textured.
Applications of SLS Prototyping Services:
Automotive & Aerospace: Functional end-use components and lightweight tooling.
Medical & Consumer Products: Durable prototypes for testing and limited production.
Architecture & Design: Detailed models with intricate shapes and textures.
Why Choose Design Roots for SLS Prototyping Services?
Design Roots in Bangalore offers services of high precision of SLS prototyping and low-volume production with precise and durable and visually refined parts in 3D printing. Having the experience of the rapid prototyping process, direct digital manufacturing, and finishing, we contribute to the making of your ideas effective.
The 3D printing industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and QSY is at the forefront of this innovation. With a focus on SLS (Selective Laser Sintering) 3D printing, QSY offers cutting-edge solutions that cater to a variety of industries, from aerospace to healthcare.
One of the standout features of QSY's SLS technology is its ability to create complex geometries that traditional manufacturing methods struggle to achieve. This opens up a world of possibilities for designers and engineers, allowing them to push the boundaries of creativity and functionality.
The commitment of QSY to quality and precision in SLS 3D printing is reflected in their detailed craftsmanship. Customers can expect not only high-performance parts but also timely delivery and exceptional customer service.
As the demand for rapid prototyping and customized solutions grows, QSY remains dedicated to providing innovative and sustainable 3D printing solutions that empower businesses to thrive in a competitive landscape.
Explore the future of manufacturing with QSY and discover how SLS 3D printing can transform your projects into reality!
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Exploring the Future of 3D Printing with QSY's Selective Laser Sintering Services
The 3D printing industry is rapidly evolving, and companies like QSY are at the forefront of this exciting transformation. With their top-notch selective laser sintering services, QSY is making it easier than ever to bring innovative designs to life.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a game-changing technology that uses a laser to fuse powdered materials into solid structures. This process allows for the creation of highly complex and detailed parts that traditional manufacturing methods simply can't match. QSY's expertise in SLS means that clients can expect exceptional quality and precision in every project.
One of the most remarkable aspects of QSY's services is their commitment to sustainability. By using advanced materials and efficient production methods, they ensure that their 3D printing processes have a minimal environmental impact. This focus on eco-friendly practices is not only beneficial for the planet but also enhances the overall appeal of their offerings.
QSY's selective laser sintering services cater to a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, and consumer products. Their ability to produce lightweight yet durable components is revolutionizing product development, allowing companies to innovate faster and more effectively.
In conclusion, QSY is paving the way for the future of 3D printing with their selective laser sintering services. Their dedication to quality, sustainability, and industry-specific solutions positions them as a leader in this dynamic field. If you're looking to elevate your next project, consider partnering with QSY for all your 3D printing needs.
Online Instant Quotes for SLA 3D printing service from QSYrapid. High-precision, accurate parts with good surface finish. Fast lead times an
