| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/R32222/01 |
| Title: |
Direct Route to the Production of Metallic Components using Selective Laser Sintering Technology |
| Principal Investigator: |
Wright, Dr CS |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Mechanical and Medical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Bradford |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
08 October 2001 |
Ends: |
07 October 2004 |
Value (£): |
144,177
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Manufacturing |
Transport Systems and Vehicles |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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There is a large world-wide interest at this time in enhancing the capability of the selective laser sintering process (sls) for metal powders to a level at which it could be used as a general manufacturing process. Powder systems that cannot be commercially processed now limit product hardness to 230HV: if hardenable, for example tool, steels, could eb processed, that would greatly extend the use of the technology. The proposed research aims to achieve this by: - design of steel composition for sls processability (melt formation and microstructure evolution in the temperature/time conditions created by scanning laser beams); - by considering powder flow in the process and matching powder size distribution and shape to its needs - by researching the local interactions of the powder bed with scanning laser beams - in this case both continuous wave C02 and highly pulsed Nd:YAG lasers which determine the temperature/time conditions and, with the surrounding atmosphere, surface tensions of any melt; and also the larger-scale interactions which control accuracy, to develop best laser scanning strategies; - by studying post-process heat treatments to develop good static and fatigue strengths; - and by manufacturing trial parts for the project's industrial collaborators to test.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.brad.ac.uk |