| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R32239/01 |
| Title: |
Direct Route to the Production of Metallic Components using Selective Laser Sintering Technology |
| Principal Investigator: |
Childs, Professor Emeritus T |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Leeds |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
03 July 2001 |
Ends: |
02 October 2004 |
Value (£): |
183,555
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Transport Systems and Vehicles |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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There is a large world-wide interest at this time in enhancing the capability of the selective laser sintering process (sls) for metal powders to a level at which it could be used as a general manufacturing process. Powder systems that can be commercially processed now limit product hardness to -250HV: if hardenable, for example tool, steels, could be processed, that would greatly extend the use of the technology. The proposed research aims to achieve this by: 1. design of steel composition for sls processability (melt formation and microstructure evolution in the temperature/time conditions created by scanning laser beams); 2. by considering powder flow in the process and matching powder size distribution and shape to its needs; 3. by researching the local interactions of the powder bed with scanning laser beams - in this case both continuous wave C02 and highly pulsed Nd: YAG lasers - which determine the temperature/time conditions and, with the surrounding atmosphere, surface tensions of any melt; and also the larger-scale interactions which control accuracy, to develop best laser scanning strategies; 4. by studying post-process heat treatments to develop good static and fatigue strengths; 5. by manufacturing trial parts for the project's industrial collaborators to test.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.leeds.ac.uk |