Selectively laser sintered multi-component part, e.g. a large die casting tool insert, is produced by slow binder outgassing and sintered product infiltration with a lower melting material in a hydrogen-free atmosphere

摘要

Selectively laser sintered multi-component part production, by slowly heating for uniform binder outgassing and infiltrating the sintered product with a lower melting material in a hydrogen-free atmosphere, is new. Sintered metal parts are produced by building up layers of a starting powder of a metallic main component and a lower melting metal additive on a movable platform and laser heating the desired cross-sectional surface to effect binder outgassing and powder sintering while the parts are filled with or embedded in inert powder material. The novelty is that outgassing is effected uniformly by gradual temperature increase, the sintered product is infiltrated with a material of lower melting temperature than the low melting additive in a separate furnace and a hydrogen-free atmosphere is maintained during sintering and infiltration. Preferred Features: The main component is steel or nickel, the lower melting additive is copper and the infiltrant is bronze or copper-aluminum.