Metal powder composition for use in selective laser sintering, method of making same, and three-dimensional object shaped from same

• Main Authors: FUWA, ISAO, UENAGA, SHUSHI, YOSHIDA, NORIO, HIGASHI, YOSHIKAZU, IWANAGA, TOSHIHARU
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 21.09.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CASTING; CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION ORPROCESSING OF GOODS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINSTCLIMATE CHANGE; TRANSPORTING; WORKING METALLIC POWDER

A three-dimensional object of a desired shape is made by irradiating an optical beam on a metal powder layer to form a sintered layer and by laminating such sintered layer one above another. A metal powder composition for use in making such a three-dimensional object includes an iron-based powder material, a nickel and/or nickel alloy powder material, a copper and/or copper alloy powder material, and a graphite powder material. The graphite powder material acts to enhance the wettability during melting and to reduce microcracks during solidification.