Optimization and Analysis of Shrinkage in Selective Laser Sintered Polyamide Parts

Abstract

Decreasing shrinkage during selective laser sintering process improves quality and functionality of the product. A model has been purposed to predict the shrinkage in terms of process parameters such as laser power, scan spacing, bed temperature, hatch length, and scan count. Face centered central composite design response surface methodology was employed to develop a model, and the adequacy of the model was verified using analysis of variance. The experiments were conducted on duraform polyamide material by using vanguard HS SLS machine by 3D systems. The effects of the different process parameters on shrinkage were analyzed and optimized.

Keywords:

• Process parameters
• Rapid prototyping
• Selective laser sintering
• Shrinkage

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors acknowledge the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Govt. of India, for the financial support, and Rapid Prototyping Center, Center Tool Room Ludhiana, Punjab, India, for experimentation.