Direct laser sintering of ceramics

In the field of layer manufacturing technologies the Fraunhofer Institute of Production Technology IPT is involved in the development of the direct laser sintering of ceramic powders. Currently, two different applications are investigated: firstly, the laser sintering of ceramic master patterns for metal spray forming of steel moulds and secondly the direct laser sintering of investment casting components (shells and cores). To realise these applications, special ceramic powders by means of grain size distribution, grain shapes and composition as well as new process parameter combinations have been examined. This paper explains the development of the new method of generating ceramic components.