It's the inner values that matter: SKZ tests additive manufactured parts
SLS manufactured components are often post-treated to modify the optical and haptic properties. SKZ investigated the effects of this post-treatment on the "inner values" such as strength and toughness.
Post-treated laser-sintered parts used to test the influence of surface treatments on mechanical properties (Photo: Britta Gerets, SKZ).
Research project on the effect of post-treatment on SLS parts completed.
Laser-sintering (SLS) is increasingly being used for functional (low-volume) plastic parts. The resulting parts often have a "powdery" feel, and the appearance is often not optimal for every application. For this reason, post-treatment of the parts by means of compacting blasting, vibratory grinding, chemical smoothing, but also infiltration and coloring is widely used.
In a research project, SKZ has investigated the inner values of externally optimized components. An influence of this post-treatment on the mechanical behavior cannot be excluded. "We examined in detail the influence on tensile strength, toughness and notch sensitivity as a function of the direction of lay and wall thickness," says Senior Engineer Britta Gerets, describing the project. In the project, the influences were characterized for components made of polyamide 12 and then validated with polyamide 11 and glass-filled polyamide 12.
The institute was able to rule out any fundamental impairment of the short-term mechanical properties in the project. In the case of very thin-walled components, an improvement in tensile strength was even observed as a result of the surface smoothing.
SKZ is looking forward to follow-up enquiries from industry. "Due to demand, we have added testing services for SLS parts directly to our service portfolio," says Matthias Ruff, Sales Manager Education and Research.
Laser-sintering, or SLS for short, is a manufacturing process used in additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. The process, in which a powder bed is fused grain by grain by means of laser radiation to create a component layer by layer, is now well established in the industry.
More information and the report of this project
