Fabrication metal objects using layer manufacturing technology and powder metallurgy science

摘要

In order to produce metal objects using Layer Manufacturing Technology, a new fabricating method is introduced by the authors. The layers in the new layer manufacturing process are generated by attracting metal powder to a charged photoreceptorunder the influence of an electrostatic field, whereupon they are deposited one by one on a building table. After each deposit operation the layer of loose powder is consolidated using simultaneous pressure and sintering. This paper studies the layergeneration system and the consolidation system, and investigate the results from these two systems. The present work proves that the new layer manufacturing process has the potential to become a manufacturing system capable of direct fabrication ofobjects in metal.