Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling

Abstract

Sintering is a term in the field of powder metallurgy and describes a process which takes place under a certain pressure and temperature over a period of time [1]. During sintering particles of a powder material are bound together in a mold to a solid part. In selective laser sintering (SLS) the crucial elements pressure and time are obsolete and the powder particles are only heated for a short period of time. SLS uses the fact that every physical system tends to achieve a condition of minimum energy. In the case of powder the partially melted particles aim to minimize their in comparison to a solid block of material enormous surface area through fusing their outer skins.