Hybrid Approaches for Selective Laser Sintering by Building on Dissimilar Materials

Abstract

We introduced a new approach in selective laser sintering for hybrid multicomponent systems by fabricating the sintered polyamide 12 (PA12) part directly onto a similar (PA12) or dissimilar (polyamide 6 (PA6) and tool steel 1.2709) joining partner. Thus, the need for adhesive substances or joining pressure was completely circumvented, leading to the possibility of pure hybrid lightweight bi-polymer or metal–polymer systems. By taking advantage of the heating capabilities of the sinter laser regarding the substrate surface, different exposure strategies circumvented the lack of overlapping melting temperatures of dissimilar polymers. Therefore, even sintering on non-PA12 polymers was made possible. Finally, the transfer on metallic substrates—made up by selective laser melting (SLM)—was successfully performed, closing the gap between two powder-based additive processes, selective laser sintering (SLS) and SLM.