Laser polishing as a new post process for 3D-printed polymer parts

A process strategy - a quasi-top-hat scanning strategy with closed-loop temperature control - for laser polishing of additively manufactured polymer parts is developed to reduce the process to its two main process parameter, polishing temperature and melt duration. A study for SLS-printed PA12 results in an achievable roughness reduction from an initial roughness of Sa = 10.2 µm to Sa = 0.61 µm. Further investigations are performed for PP, TPU, ABS and PEEK.