Pro­cesses

This section briefly describes three categories of AM-technologies that are currently considered in the DMRC . This comprises Laser Sintering (LS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Laser Melting (LM). For each category the technology is characterized in detail, providing technical and material data as well as a description of the process principle.
Laser sintering

Laser Sintering (LS) represent an additive manufacturing technique in which powdered plastic materials
are selectively sintered. The energy to locally fuse the powder is performed by a laser beam. After all layers are built, the part can be removed from the powder bed. The remaining powder is reusable for future production builds after being blended with new powder.
Laser melting

Using Laser melting (LM), powdered metal material is selectively melted layer by layer via lasers. In the process, the powder bed fuses through solidication. The process uses a high powered Ytterbium fiber laser to fuse the powder. The metal is fully melted into a solid homogeneous mass.
Fused Deposition Modeling

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an additive technique using a thermoplastic material. An extrusion head selectively deposits the molten thermoplastic filament to create each layer with a particular toolpath. Through thermal fusion, the material bonds with the layer beneath and solidifies, thus forming a permanent bond between two layers.
ARBURG Plastic Freeforming

Unlike conventional additive manufacturing techniques, with ARBURG Plastic Freeforming (APF), qualified standard granulates are melted as in the injection moulding process. The freeformer uses tiny droplets of plastic to build the part on the basis of 3D CAD data.
Source: arburg.com

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