Nelson, J., Galloway, G., Rennie, A., Abram, T., Bennett, G. (2014). Effects of Scan Direction and Orientation on Mechanical Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide-12. ADMT Journal, 7(3), -.
Jack A Nelson; Greg Galloway; Allan E W Rennie; Tom N Abram; Graham R Bennett. "Effects of Scan Direction and Orientation on Mechanical Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide-12". ADMT Journal, 7, 3, 2014, -.
Nelson, J., Galloway, G., Rennie, A., Abram, T., Bennett, G. (2014). 'Effects of Scan Direction and Orientation on Mechanical Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide-12', ADMT Journal, 7(3), pp. -.
Nelson, J., Galloway, G., Rennie, A., Abram, T., Bennett, G. Effects of Scan Direction and Orientation on Mechanical Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide-12. ADMT Journal, 2014; 7(3): -.
Effects of Scan Direction and Orientation on Mechanical Properties of Laser Sintered Polyamide-12
1Engineering Department, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
2CRDM Ltd, 3D Systems Europe,
High Wycombe, UK
Abstract
In order to understand the impact of layer-wise scanning direction in the Selective Laser Sintering process, test coupons were manufactured for mechanical testing from DuraForm™ Polyamide powder. The effects of laser energy density, varying between 0.003 and 0.024 J/mm2 were examined in test specimens rotated 90º through the Z axis. SLS machines do not always facilitate ‘cross-hatching’ of layers and therefore orientation has a major influence on part quality. When employed, the cross-hatching technique scans successive layers perpendicularly to the previous. Studying how parts perform with scan lines in a common direction, will assist in the understanding of how SLS parts behave in practice. Results showed that physical density, tensile strength and elongation rose with energy density up to 0.012 J/mm². This initial rise was due to a continued improvement in particle fusion with increasing energy density. Above 0.012 J/mm², these properties started to decline at different rates depending on their orientation (scan direction) on the part bed. Specimen’s oriented perpendicularly to the X axis exhibited a greater elongation at the expense of tensile strength, when compared to parallel specimens.
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