A Review on Selective Laser Sintering: A Rapid Prototyping Technology

Abstract

The components which were assumed to be very difficult to produce or manufacture some years ago can now be made easily using additive manufacturing technology. Additive Manufacturing offers many advantages in the production of parts, presenting freedom for design with the ability to manufacture single or multiple components from a wide range of materials. Different techniques of additive manufacturing are entailed. Selective Laser Sintering as an additive manufacturing technology fuses or sinters the successive powder layers to produce the part. The variety of materials that the process can adopt are discussed. The principle of the process, its elements, characteristics and applications are discussed in detail. The process is also having some disadvantages. This technology requires Laser as an energy source, powder feeder, Closed Chamber for controlled environment. The characteristics of the produced parts with important process parameters are mentioned. The paper provides information of additive manufacturing along with the Selective Laser Sintering process introduction and identification of its different parameters that influence the process.