Post-processing of an object obtained by direct metal laser sintering
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips N.V.
InventorsGereon Vogtmeier, Christiaan Kok
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and a system for treating a surface of an object obtained by direct metal laser sintering. The object is sintered from a metal powder with a grain size distribution. Due to the manufacturing process, the object can comprise a rough surface with remaining grains of the metal powder attached to the surface. The method according to the present invention provides parameters for post-processing the object to achieve a smooth surface suitable for use in medical imaging systems.
Claims10
A method of treating a surface of an object, the method comprising:
- providing the object obtained by direct metal laser sintering from a metal powder, the object having a maximum grain size of the metal powder and an initial surface roughness range;
- post-processing the surface of the object with a surface optimization technology, the surface optimization technology reducing a surface roughness of the surface of the object;
- measuring a post-processing surface roughness range of the surface;
- determining whether a condition of the post-processing surface roughness range is met, wherein the condition at least requires the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than the initial surface roughness range by a factor of at least two, and the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than the maximum grain size;
- and
- stopping treating the surface of the object when the condition is met, and repeating treating the surface of the object starting with post-processing the surface of the object when the condition is not met;
- wherein post-processing the surface of the object with the surface optimization technology comprises removing grains attached to the surface of the object, and
- wherein a surface roughness range is defined by a difference in elevation of a highest point of the surface of the object and a lowest point of the surface of the object.
A system for treating a surface of an object obtained by direct metal laser sintering from a metal powder, the system comprising:
- a surface optimization unit configured for reducing a surface roughness of the surface of the object;
- a measurement unit configured for measuring a post-processing surface roughness range of the surface of the object;
- and
- a determination unit configured for determining whether a condition of the post-processing surface roughness range is met, wherein the condition comprises the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than an initial surface roughness range by a factor of at least two, and the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than a maximum grain size of the metal powder of the direct metal laser sintering,
- wherein post-processing the surface of the object with the surface optimization technology comprises removing grains attached to the surface of the object, and
- wherein a surface roughness range is defined by a difference in elevation of a highest point of the surface of the object and a lowest point of the surface of the object.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium for storing executable instructions, which cause a method to be performed for treating a surface of an object, the method comprising:
- post-processing the surface of the object with a surface optimization technology, the surface optimization technology reducing a surface roughness of the surface of the object, wherein the object is obtained by direct metal laser sintering from a metal powder, the object having a maximum grain size of the metal powder and an initial surface roughness range;
- measuring a post-processing surface roughness range of the surface;
- determining whether a condition of the post-processing surface roughness range is met, wherein the condition at least requires the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than the initial surface roughness range by a factor of at least two, and the post-processing surface roughness range being smaller than the maximum grain size;
- and
- stopping the method of treating the surface of the object when the condition is met, and repeating treating the surface of the object starting with post-processing the surface of the object when the condition is not met,
- wherein post-processing the surface of the object with the surface optimization technology comprises removing grains attached to the surface of the object, and
- wherein a surface roughness range is defined by a difference in elevation of a highest point of the surface of the object and a lowest point of the surface of the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.