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2
3D SYSTEMS, INC
.
PN:80-D27 Rev.B
GENERAL MACHINE OPERATION
The manufacturing process takes place as follows:
•
Processing of the CAD file with
ProX DMP Manufacturing
, standalone software, in order to slice the part as a series of
superimposed cross-sections. Creation of the manufacturing file (*.FAB2, or *.FAB3 files), used by the ProX
®
DMP metal
printers .
•
Preparation of the machine, loading of the sintering plate and purging the chamber .
•
Uploading the *.FAB2 or *.FAB3 file onto the machine.
•
Dispensing a powder layer on the sintering plate (Layering cycle) .
•
Fusing the metal powder into a solid part using a focused laser beam (Sintering cycle) .
•
Repeated execution of layering and sintering cycles until the part is produced .
•
Unloading the part and possible post-processing and finishing in order to obtain the desired characteristics.
INTENDED USE
Laser sintering operations are performed on metal powders only .
Each metal powder should only be used after checking the information provided by the supplier, the material safety data
sheet (MSDS) and any applicable regulations .
Limitations relating to the manufacture of 3D objects by laser sintering
Before manufacturing a 3D object, please ensure that none of the following criteria are met :
•
A 3D object with at least one of the layers covering more than half of the total surface of the sintering plate,
•
3D object with an undercut angle< 45 ° compared to the horizontal surface of the sintering plate,
•
3D object where its minimum thickness is 5 times smaller than its height,
Without being exhaustive, these criteria represent the majority of cases to be checked before manufacturing a 3D object by
laser sintering .
Conditions relating to the Layering
During the manufacturing process, the roller must not disturb any of the previous sintered layers . This is why the correct
conditions required for the manufacturing of layers is given in the following diagram .
C
n
C
n-1
C
n-2
e ≥ 0
C : thickness of layers (c = c
n-1
= c
n-2
. . .)