Subproject B3 – Research System

The research systemof the Collaborative Research Centre 814 – Additive Manufacturing is a self-establishedand almost freely parameterizable and temperature-stabilized laser beam meltingsystem.

It allows for ahomogeneous temperature distribution on the building space, which is a basicrequirement for the fabrication process guaranteed by an eight-zone IR surfaceheating system. The maximum build chamber temperature is 230°C, which enablesthe processing of plastics with higher melting temperatures. The scanningsystem is state of the art and guarantees short acceleration times as well ashigh precision in beam guiding. The integrated f-theta lens of the laser systemenables constant intensity distributions almost over the entire build chambersurface of 350 x 350 mm². The maximum build height is 500 mm. Thefocus diameter of the CO₂ laser is 400 µm and the maximum nominalpower is 50 W.

The researchsystem has a wide range of additional equipment, which is used especially forprocess analysis and processing of new powder materials in small quantities. Thus,different setups can be integrated into the system, which make it possible toreduce the installation space and to control the temperature. In addition, areduction of the powder storage container is available, too. Differentrecoating geometries are available for powder application, e.g. different bladegeometries or a counter rotating roller. Furthermore, for the observation ofthe thermal boundary conditions and the exposure process as well as the meltpool formation an infrared camera system can be integrated into the researchsystem.

This high-endadaptable research system is used to answer the most complex questionsregarding laser sintering of polymers.