Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 26, 2013 02:57PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 23 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 26, 2013 03:13PM |
Admin Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 730 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 26, 2013 03:22PM |
Admin Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 730 |
Quote
dragonator
Nobody has gone into SLS desktop printers because it is unknown, really hard and dangerous (high powered lasers). Powder management could be a health issue, but I think it is mainly this: no real prospect for usable parts in experimental printers and too many unknowns. (for SLS and 3DP)
I haven't had a single usable part, just some experiments. Everything I do is completely unknown.
I am currently planning to convert Focus to 3DP printer, because I need a break from the hell that is SLS printing. I need to rethink SLS before I will continue with that.
Quote
dragonator
SLS is one of the most versatile techniques, but this is about the hardware available. I simply miss too many things on Focus (heated buildbox, scanner, inert gas chamber) to yield any results. The laser is too low powered and the carriage is too slow.
I cannot print in SLS because I have huge amounts of shrink, enough to displace previous layers and enough to warp a 3mm part 1mm. All hardware needed to have less shrink is not and will not be available due to the used hardware on focus. To properly sinter, I need scanners with galvo's, High powered laser that can melt without additives to the powder, heated buildbox and chamber.
At this point of the project it is way easier to convert Focus to 3DP. All hardware necessary is already there. I might design an SLS specific printer one day, but that is a €3000 project, and I lack proper funding and time for that.
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 26, 2013 04:29PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 23 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 26, 2013 05:14PM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 1,236 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 01:03AM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 210 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 02:12AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 23 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 12:28PM |
Admin Registered: 13 years ago Posts: 730 |
This is true. A lot of people underestimate this problem. I worked with a powder-based printer, and I liked it, but the powder got absolutely everywhere. Everything in the same room as the printer got coated with powder, it would track out into the rest of the building... well, you get the idea. Not something your housemates are going to let you set up in the laundry room.Quote
bobc
Micro-fine powders ... are just really nasty to handle.
I hope so! But at this rate it might take a while. Lot's of people want to make printers. Hardly anyone cares if they self-replicate.Quote
EdEarl
Someone is at least thinking of how to make all the parts necessary for a RepRap, and I expect it will be done eventually, probably fast enough to make our heads spin.
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 02:08PM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 74 |
Quote
EdEarl
Is it true that the laser sintering patent will expire in February 2014, which will allow open source 3D printers to be made that can make things from more materials, including metal and ceramic?
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 02:45PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 22 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 27, 2013 03:11PM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 74 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 28, 2013 12:01AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 22 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 28, 2013 02:55PM |
Admin Registered: 15 years ago Posts: 1,470 |
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Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 30, 2013 11:18PM |
Registered: 16 years ago Posts: 174 |
Re: Laser Sintering Patent to Expire? August 31, 2013 04:44AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 125 |