Polymer additive layer manufacturing

摘要

An additive layer manufacturing method for producing a shaped article, comprising providing a powdered thermoplastic polymer material (7, 8) having a re-solidification temperature at most 10% below its melting temperature on the Celsius scale, depositing successive layers of the powdered polymer material (7, 8) and selectively sintering each layer prior to deposition of the subsequent layer so as to form the article, wherein during its production the article is maintained at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and significantly below the re-solidification temperature of the polymer.

主权项

1. An additive layer manufacturing (ALM) method for producing a shaped article, comprising providing a powdered thermoplastic polymer material selected from the group comprising polyaryletherketones, polyetheretherketones (PEEK), or polyetherketones (PEK) having a re-solidification temperature at most 10% below its melting temperature on the Celsius scale, depositing successive layers of the powdered polymer material and selectively sintering each layer prior to deposition of the subsequent layer so as to form a support structure and then form the article upon the support structure, the support structure and the article are produced using the same ALM method, wherein during its production the article is maintained at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and below the re-solidification temperature of the polymer, and the shaped article is constructed within a sintering chamber maintained at a temperature below the continuous service temperature of the polymer material.