What special benefits does laser-sintering a titanium alloy present over traditional molding and machining processes?
Since DMLS is an additive technology, it dramatically reduces material waste in comparison with traditional processes. Investment casting of titanium, for example, is difficult and often has a high scrap rate. Currently, many titanium aerospace components are machined from solid stock, often cutting away 90% or more of the original material – a time-consuming, costly operation that is completely eliminated with DMLS. DMLS also has lower labor costs since it is a nearly automatic process that involves minimal programming and no “hands-on work” or supervision during part manufacture. Finally, some of the characteristics that make titanium ideal for aerospace applications also make it difficult to machine. Its hardness and low heat conductivity reduce tool speeds and life, require a great deal of liquid cooling during machining, and limit the producibility of certain shapes, such as thin walls. Laser-sintered titanium, however, retains the beneficial properties of the metal and involves n
