On-line temperature monitoring in selective laser sintering/melting

Poor efficiency of selective laser sintering/ melting (SLS/SLM) processes and poor articles surface quality are mainly responsible for their slow manufacturing application. That is why optical monitoring has paramount importance for SLS/SLM process resulting part quality.The optical systems for temperature monitoring of SLS/SLM process are developed and integrated with industrial SLS/SLM machines. The system provides the possibility to spatial distribution of brightness temperature at two wavelengths and selected temperature profiles, calculation of colour temperature and express analysis of possible deviations of the maximum temperature from its optimal value. Optimal regimes of SLS process for the sintering of the high porosity powder body was determined.