Title: Modelling and simulation of bio-medical components by selective laser sintering

Authors: Y. Ravi Kumar

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract: This work proposes a system for modelling and simulation of rapid prototyping (RP) process called selective laser sintering (SLS). The system aims to reduce the manufacturing risks in fabricating bio-medical components by SLS process. The system takes the computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging data of the patient and it is processed into stereolithography (STL) format by using medical image processing software. It involves modelling and simulation of SLS system, which facilitates visualisation and testing the effects of process parameters on the part quality. Modelling of RP is based on qualifying the measures of part quality, which includes accuracy, build-time and efficiency of the SLS process. The model incorporates various process parameters such as layer thickness, hatch space, bed temperature, laser power, sinter factor, etc. It has been integrated with the simulation system to provide a test-bed to optimise the process parameters.

Keywords: CT/MRI; computed tomography; magnetic resonance imaging; medical image processing; modelling; optimisation; parameter tuning; RP; rapid prototyping; simulation; SLS; selective laser sintering; STL; stereolithography; biomedical components; part quality.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRAPIDM.2011.044701

International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing, 2011 Vol.2 No.4, pp.234 - 257

Published online: 18 Feb 2015 *

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