Processes and systems for double-pulse laser micro sintering

A laser sintering process comprising:

• providing powder particles on a solid surface so that at least a portion of the powder particles forms a material surface;
• and then or simultaneously
• laser irradiating a target surface of the material surface with one or more laser pulse groups at one or multiple locations to induce coalition of at least some of the powder particles at the target surface into a more continuous medium comprising a mass formed by at least two interconnected powder particles;
• wherein at least one of the one or more laser pulse group(s) comprises:
• one or more sintering laser pulses that irradiate at least first irradiated target surface locations of the target surface followed by one or more pressing laser pulses that irradiate at least second irradiated target surface locations of the target surface, wherein the one or more pressing laser pulses have a peak power density at the second irradiated target surface locations that is higher than a peak power density of the one or more sintering laser pulses at the first irradiated target surface locations;
• a time delay at the target surface between a last sintering laser pulse of the one or more sintering laser pulses and a first pressing laser pulse of the one or more pressing laser pulses;
• and
• inducing, with the first pressing laser pulse, a pressure pulse onto the target surface by vaporizing material at the target surface and/or creating a plasma plume at the target surface, wherein at the moment right before the first pressing laser pulse arrives at the target surface, at least some material in at least part of the target surface melted or partially melted at least partially due to irradiation of the one or more sintering laser pulses still remains melted or at least partially melted when irradiated by the first pressing laser pulse.