Project:Sinter

Let us build a laser sinter.

The plan is to build a selective laser sinter to fuse plastic powder.

How it works

A laser moves over a 2D area of powder fusing the powder into a solid. When one layer is finished the bed of powder drops and a new layer of powder is added. The process is repeated until an object is created.

Next step

Fire lasers at powders.

Parts of the project

• Electronics - A microprocessor that can control stepper motors, trigger the laser & monitor the system for faults. This is probably the hardest part of the project. Status: Finished.
• Laser - Need to know wattage and frequency needed by the powder.
• Powder - Consider using black PLA plastic as it smells nice when heated.
• Overhead gantry - used to move the laser or laser-beam in X,Y space.
• Powder hopper - a powder holder.
• Build area - a hole under the laser that drops down smoothly and evenly a distance as small as 50 nanometers to make space for the next layer of powder.
• Powder mover - Something to move the powder from the hopper to the build area. needs to pack powder down to a uniform hight without disturbing the layer below.
• Case - A container to stop the Hackspace filling with fine powder. Maybe with glove holes and compressed air so the printed parts can be cleaned without opening.
• Heater - Optional heater to bring the powder close to fusing temperature so the laser can move faster.