METAL POWDER FOR METAL LASER-SINTERING AND METAL LASER-SINTERING PROCESS USING THE SAME

• Main Authors: ABE SATOSHI, FUWA ISAO
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 26.05.2011
• Subjects: ALLOYS; CASTING; CHEMISTRY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; MAKING METALLIC POWDER; MANUFACTURE OF ARTICLES FROM METALLIC POWDER; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS; WORKING METALLIC POWDER

A metal powder for use in a metal laser-sintering wherein a three-dimensional shaped object is produced by irradiating a powder layer of the metal powder with a light beam to form a sintered layer and thereby laminating the sintered layers. The metal powder of the present invention is characterized in that it comprises an iron-based powder and at least one kind of powder selected from the group consisting of a nickel powder, a nickel-based alloy powder, a copper powder, a copper-based alloy powder and a graphite powder; and the iron-based powder has been annealed. In such metal powder, the iron-based powder is in a softened state due to the annealing treatment thereof. Accordingly, the use of the metal powder in a metal laser-sintering process makes it possible to reduce a machining resistance attributable to the residual metal powder adherent to the surface of the shaped object, which leads to an achievement of an extended lifetime of a machining tool.