DMLS -Direct Metal Laser Sintering- The datum point

Hi,

I'm a French student studying the DMLS process and I'm very interesting in what are you saying, but I need some help.

I know that DMLS machines tend to be hard to set and position work accuratly. There are two main issues associated with accurate work location on DMLS machines:

* The build platforms upon which the metal is sintered do not have any form of positional location to the main build chamber within the sintering machine.

*The datum point for the laser in not known. The laser has a home position that is based on the positioning of the mirrors that reflect the laser beam into the build chamber.

So I'm looking for a procedure to allow the datum position of the laser to be measured and thereby related to the position of the fixture.

Thank you

Try the rpml mailing list. They can help you.
[rapid.lpt.fi]

DMLS sounds cool. Let us know if you want try to build it into a post-Mendel RepRap.

There's a fair number of francophone and France based reprap builders if you poke around in the forums and on the map, by the way.

This link I made for you so you can learn all about the processes.

http://directmetallasersintering.blogspot.com/

Sofienne,

Not certain if you have heard of a company called Concept Laser or a technology called LaserCusing, but they offer a system with a built in reference system from Erowa or System 3R. It is a German company and Concept Laser use premachined parts and offline presetting to accurately locate and transfer position data to the Concept Laser machine.

LaserCusing is a brand name from Concept Laser and is a combining of the word fusing with Concept, and is a powderbed layer by layer fully melting process, just google LaserCusing and you will find out more details.

I hope this helps
CC

You can check out GPI Prototype website

http://gpiprototype.com

or visit this blog to get info on how much the parts cost

http://directmetallasersintering.blogspot.com/2010/01/dmls-direct-metal-laser-sintering-costs.html

Tim