Additive manufacturing (AM) is a diverse group of manufacturing techniques that build objects by adding material in a layer-by-layer fashion. There are many ways of dividing the diverse family of ceramic AM techniques into sensible categories [1]. On this research a Selective Laser Sintering machine developed.
The developed system (shown in Fig. 1) includes a built platform and related elevator mechanism (1), powder chamber and elevator ball screw (2), roller feeder (3), transverse movement of the roller feeder by stepper motor (4), and XYZ CNC movement of the laser head (5). To ensure precise printing, we designed and fabricated a servo mechanism with a feeding ball screw.
The printing process for each layer begins by lowering the part platform by 40 μm, followed by upward movement of the material powder, typically twice the height of the part platform, to ensure that there is enough powder for the new layer. The roller feeder is then activated, and a timing belt mechanism moves to ensure a uniform distribution of the new layer. Finally, the XY ball screw CNC movement scans the predefined sections and sinters them according to the setup parameters. This process is carefully controlled to ensure the highest level of accuracy and repeatability.
Ceramic materials are known for their ability to withstand a diverse range of working conditions. In order to account for these varying conditions, our system has been designed as a modular solution. This allows for flexibility in terms of air pressure, pipe diameter, nozzle diameter, and feeding screw specifications, ensuring that the system can be tailored to the specific needs of each material and condition.
