Vortrag gehalten auf dem Workshop "Aktiver und passiver Leichtbau im Maschinenbau und der Bauindustrie", 9. September 2009, Chemnitz

Abstract
Selective Laser Melting technologies allow direct additive manufacturing of metallic components of virtually unlimited freedom of design, bearing huge potential for new light weight design solutions in light weight metal alloys like aluminum, titanium, stainless steel and others. This presentation explains the new technology and respective machinery, lists its advantages for new light weight solutions and illustrates the new design freedom the technology offers to the professional design engineer, e. g. periodic lattice structures or freeform structures using bionic design rules and topology optimization tools. It shows examples and references for light weight parts manufactured by Selective Laser Melting like medical implants, safety crash absorbers, turbine wheels, motorsports applications and many more. It also gives a prospective on expedient future applications of Laser Melting technologies for extreme light weight solutions.