We studied the influence of the laser parameters on the
material properties of selectively laser sintered Titanium and
Platinum-alloyed powders, which are both of paramount interest in
modern technology. In this article, we show that with an
appropriate energy deposition in the metallic powder layer, the
material properties of the selectively laser sintered parts can
locally be tailored to the requirements of the finished work
piece. By adapting the laser parameters of a Q-switched Nd:YAG
laser, notably pulse duration and local intensity, the degree of
porosity, density and even the crystalline microstructure can be
controlled. Pulsed interaction allows in addition to minimize the
average power needed for consolidation of the metallic powder, and
leads to less residual thermal stresses. With laser post
processing, the surface can achieve bulk-like density.
We also
demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge the highly precise
selective laser sintering of steel micro powder with a lateral
accuracy of less than 10 micrometers by using a modelocked Nd:YAG
laser. Furthermore, we present the possibility of forming metallic
glass components by sintering amorphous metallic powders.