Characterisation of innovative materials for Direct Laser Sintering
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Characterisation of innovative materials for Direct Laser Sintering. E. Bassoli1, A. Gatto1, L. Iuliano2, E. Atzeni2 1 Dept. of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Univ. of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via Vignolese 905/B, 41100 Modena, Italy. 2 Dept. of Manufacturing Systems and Economics, Polytechnic of Turin, C.so Duca Abruzzi 24, 10129 Turin, Italy. ABSTRACT The performances achieved by Rapid Prototyping techniques are progressively leading towards Rapid Manufacturing, that is the capability to produce end products, directly from the CAD model. Even so, the diffusion of these techniques is hardly supported by scientific knowledge about the micro-mechanisms ruling the macroscopic performances of the part. In the present research, mechanical performances of new materials produced by Direct Laser Sintering technique have been studied: a Polyamide and an innovative Polyamide-Aluminium composite (Alumide). Specimens were produced with different orientations in regard to powder deposition plane and laser path, to investigate how the manufacturing anisotropy affects the part performances.
INTRODUCTION The performances achieved by Rapid Prototyping techniques, also through the innovation in the field of materials, are progressively leading towards Rapid Manufacturing, that is the capability to produce end products via layer-by-layer construction, directly from the CAD model. Selective laser sintering (SLS) technique allows the use of many materials, ensuring to design the part’s properties as a function of the intended application [1]. Besides the largely diffused polymeric materials, for aesthetic and functional models, innovative metal-polymer composites have been recently developed [2,3], whose mechanical and finishing characteristics suggest new promising uses. An example is the polyamidealuminum composite Alumide, whose stiffness and surface quality make it suitable for critical functional tests, such as in the wind tunnel for automotive applications, as well as for rapid tooling applications. Furthermore, the performances of these materials, together with the success of strongly personalized products, to be realized in small series or even in few pieces, open the way to the direct construction of end products. An accurate knowledge of the parts’ performances, for the various materials and as a function of the building orientation, is fundamental to ensure their efficacy in reducing times and costs of product development [1,4]. The present research aims at a deep characterization of polymeric and composite parts produced by SLS, investigating how the manufacturing anisotropy, both in terms of additive construction and laser sintering strategy, affects the mechanical performances. A constant attention was dedicated to the joining and failure micromechanisms ruling the macroscopic characteristics, on the basis of the knowledge developed by the authors on SLS of metal powders [4,5].
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Previous studies concerning polyamide parts confirm the importance of fabrication parameters and geometry on the final pe
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