Multiple material systems and assisted powder handling for selective beam sintering

摘要

A method and apparatus for selectively sintering a layer of powder to produce a part comprising a plurality of sintered layers. The apparatus includes a computer (40) controlling a laser (30) to direct the laser energy onto the powder (26) to produce a sintered mass. The computer (40) either determines or is programmed with the boundaries of the desired cross-sectional regions of the part. For each cross-section, the aim of the laser beam (64) is scanned over a layer of powder (57) and the beam is switched on to sinter only the powder within the boundaries of the cross-section. Powder is applied and successive layers (54, 55, 56, 57) sintered until a completed part is formed. Preferably, the powder comprises a plurality of materials having different dissociation or bonding temperatures. The powder preferably comprises blended (901, 902) or coated (1001, 1002) materials.