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AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsMichael A. Cullinan, Anil Yuksel, Nilabh Kumar Roy
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Exemplified microscale selective laser sintering (μ-SLS or micro-SLS) systems and methods facilitate modeling of the nanoparticle powder bed by simulating the interactions between particles during the powder spreading operation. In particular, the exemplified methods and system use multiscale modeling techniques to accurately predict the formation and mechanical/electrical properties of parts produced by selective laser sintering of powder beds. Discrete element modeling is used for nanoscale particle interactions by implementing the different forces dominant at nanoscale. A heat transfer analysis is used to predict the sintering of individual particles in the powder beds in order to build up a complete structural model of the parts that are being produced by the SLS process.
A method of fabricating a three-dimensional workpiece, on a layer-by-layer basis, by forming, for each layer, a uniform layer of nanoparticle powders to be selectively sintered, the method comprising dispensing a generally uniform layer of nanoparticle ink or a colloid comprising a solvent having a plurality of nanoparticles mixed or suspended therein, wherein the solvent of the layer of colloid evaporates to produce a generally uniform layer of nanoparticles powder on the working surface of the workpiece.
A method of predicting mechanical and electrical properties of a three-dimensional part produced by selective laser sintering of powder beds, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.