Product Code: ICA13_C103

Additive Manufacturing In Micro Scale
Authors:
Christian Noelke, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Matthias Gieseke, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Stefan Kaierle, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.; Hannover Germany
Presented at ICALEO 2013

Additive manufacturing is getting increasingly attractive for industrial production of unique or small series parts. Since a lot industrial metals like titanium and aluminum are established in AM processes, increasing the resolution within these processes is the next challenge. The aim is not only the production of micro-sized parts or important details, there is also a request to achieve ready to use surface qualities to minimize post-processing. The results of selective laser micro melting (SLµM) are promising and can be the first step to adapt these requirements to small size components.
Selective Laser Micro Melting requires an adequate setup of the process parameters. Occurring process errors are more severe than in macro processes since the structures are comparably small. This contribution will give an overview of the demands of laser based micro-processing, having a focus on two-step procedures and the latest results regarding maximum spatial resolution, mechanical properties and post-processing of SLµM test-samples. Mechanical- and electro-polishing procedures have been investigated, to determine their impact on the mechanical properties primary and on details resolution secondary. Beyond this the standard STL-Files of test samples have been modified to validate the impact of production files towards the final machine capabilities.
In this way micro-parts with improved resolution and high surface qualities have been realized.