Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine
Due to manufacturer implemented processing parameter restrictions and the cost prohibitive nature of selective laser sintering (SLS) machines, researchers have limited opportunities to explore the processing of new materials using this additive manufacturing (3D printing) process. Accordingly, this...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2020-10-01
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| Series: | HardwareX |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300286 |
| _version_ | 1818448372291338240 |
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| author | Martin Mapley Yidi Lu Shaun D. Gregory Jo P. Pauls Geoff Tansley Andrew Busch |
| author_facet | Martin Mapley Yidi Lu Shaun D. Gregory Jo P. Pauls Geoff Tansley Andrew Busch |
| author_sort | Martin Mapley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to manufacturer implemented processing parameter restrictions and the cost prohibitive nature of selective laser sintering (SLS) machines, researchers have limited opportunities to explore the processing of new materials using this additive manufacturing (3D printing) process. Accordingly, this article aimed to overcome these limitations by describing the build and operation of a customizable low-cost polymer SLS machine. The machine boasts a three piston powder bed with the center build piston heated by PID controlled ceramic heaters. Thermal energy for powder consolidation was provided via a 2.44 W solid state diode laser which was mechanically traversed using stepper motor driven belt drives. New layers of powder were deposited by a counter-rotating roller system. The SLS machine was controlled by executing G-code in Mach3 allowing full customization of processing parameters. The machine demonstrated the production of parts from polyamide-12 reaching densities of 918 ± 9 kg/m3 while achieving an elastic modulus of 358.36 ± 3.04 MPa and elongation at break of 11.13 ± 0.02%. With part properties similar to those achievable with a commercial machine, this low-cost SLS machine could be a vital tool in assisting researchers to explore the processing of new materials. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:18:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1c8236fa7fe4442a884a0b518f235f3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2468-0672 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T20:18:28Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | HardwareX |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1c8236fa7fe4442a884a0b518f235f32022-12-21T22:48:47ZengElsevierHardwareX2468-06722020-10-018e00119Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machineMartin Mapley0Yidi Lu1Shaun D. Gregory2Jo P. Pauls3Geoff Tansley4Andrew Busch5School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Corresponding author.Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia; Innovative Cardiovascular Engineering and Technology Laboratory, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, AustraliaSchool of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Queensland, AustraliaDue to manufacturer implemented processing parameter restrictions and the cost prohibitive nature of selective laser sintering (SLS) machines, researchers have limited opportunities to explore the processing of new materials using this additive manufacturing (3D printing) process. Accordingly, this article aimed to overcome these limitations by describing the build and operation of a customizable low-cost polymer SLS machine. The machine boasts a three piston powder bed with the center build piston heated by PID controlled ceramic heaters. Thermal energy for powder consolidation was provided via a 2.44 W solid state diode laser which was mechanically traversed using stepper motor driven belt drives. New layers of powder were deposited by a counter-rotating roller system. The SLS machine was controlled by executing G-code in Mach3 allowing full customization of processing parameters. The machine demonstrated the production of parts from polyamide-12 reaching densities of 918 ± 9 kg/m3 while achieving an elastic modulus of 358.36 ± 3.04 MPa and elongation at break of 11.13 ± 0.02%. With part properties similar to those achievable with a commercial machine, this low-cost SLS machine could be a vital tool in assisting researchers to explore the processing of new materials.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300286Additive manufacturing3D printingPowder bed fusionThermal controlLaser diodePolymer |
| spellingShingle | Martin Mapley Yidi Lu Shaun D. Gregory Jo P. Pauls Geoff Tansley Andrew Busch Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine HardwareX Additive manufacturing 3D printing Powder bed fusion Thermal control Laser diode Polymer |
| title | Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| title_full | Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| title_fullStr | Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| title_short | Development and validation of a low-cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| title_sort | development and validation of a low cost polymer selective laser sintering machine |
| topic | Additive manufacturing 3D printing Powder bed fusion Thermal control Laser diode Polymer |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468067220300286 |
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