Selective Laser Melting

Year of study: IV
 The Selective Laser Melting
machine (SLM) is perfectly
suited for the requirements
in the dental
industry. Medical device
INTRODUCTION manufacturers are
increasingly adopting
Selective Laser Melting
technology for the
production of a wide range
of medical and dental parts.
This includes the production
of functional prototypes.
 The purpose of this presentation
is to illustrate the application of
the SLM technology in dentistry.

Purpose
In the following slides I will
describe the problems that can
occur in the process and the
solution for that problems.
• SLM basically is a laser
welding process and all welding
related problems as shrinkage,
distortion, cracks, residual
stress and surface hardening are
to be expected.
• To control this complex set of
parameters, the process runs
under shielding gas (azote), fine
grained powders are applied and
sophisticated scan strategies are
used to govern the exposure by
the laser beam.
 • To achieve fine details and a minimum of
stair stepping, a small layer thickness and
a small laser beam diameter are
necessary.
Functional • Today fiber lasers in the 100W range
with beam diameters in the range of 0,2
parameters μm to 0,4 μm are used. The layer
thickness is in the range of 30 μm. As
materials, commercially available
powders can be used. The grain size is in
the range of 20 μm to 50 μm.
 The machine consists of:
• A sealed build chamber
containing the powder feed and
handling system;

Components • The round process chamber

with the movable build
platform;
• The leveling system;
• The laser window and a
microscope for visual
inspection during the build.
Selective laser melting machine
 The process
starts by slicing
the
3D CAD file
data into layers,
usually from 20
to 100
micrometers
thick, creating a
2D image of
each layer
 How it works
A bar takes a defined amount of powder, spreads it over the build area and
provides the required layer thickness in the process chamber. After the laser
beam has exposed the actual layer contour, the build platform is lowered by
the amount of one layer thickness and a new procedure starts until the part is
completed.
As it is cold, it directly can be removed from the machine with the
whole platform. The post processing requires the manual removal of the part
from the platform.
 The powder is
Inadequate
not suitable, the
cleaning of the
particles are of
metal sheet
different sizes

The surface of Failure to

Problems that the metal sheet properly
could occur is not 100%
straight
perform heat
treatment

The remaining
amount of air
left inside
Here we can see a
product that has been
interrupted from its
evolution because of the
mistakes above
mentioned
 • The metal sheet must be cleaned with
Preventive technic alcohol
measures and • Make sure that the powder has the best
quality
solution to • Make sure the flatness of the metal
eliminate the sheet is perfect
risks of failure • Make sure that the chamber is
completely under azote atmosphere
 Geometric freeadom
Advantages
Personalization of the piece

Material flexibility

The remaining unprocessed powder

can be reused
 The selective laser melting technique is
characterized as a fast manufacturing
technique

Mechanical tests have proven that the SLM

parts satisfy requirements regarding mechanical
properties such as hardness, strength and
rigidity.
Conclusions
Chemical tests shows favorable
corrosion behavior

SLM allows efficient production of

dental parts with a strong economic
potential
 My practical implication in this
presentation is that I observed the
problems that can arise by assisting in
the whole process under the supervision
of mister
THANK YOU!