Computational Framework to Model the Selective Laser Sintering Process

Abstract

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is one of the most well-regarded additive manufacturing (AM) sub-processes, whose popularity has been increasing among numerous critical and demanding industries due to its capabilities, mainly manufacturing parts with highly complex geometries and desirable mechanical properties, with potential to replace other, more expensive, conventional processes. However, due to its various underlying multi-physics phenomena, the intrinsic complexity of the SLS process often hampers its industrial implementation. Such limitation has motivated academic interest in obtaining better insights into the process to optimize it and attain the required standards. In that regard, the usual experimental optimization methods are time-consuming and expensive and can fail to provide the optimal configurations, leading researchers to resort to computational modeling to better understand the process. The main objective of the present work is to develop a computational model capable of simulating the SLS process for polymeric applications, within an open-source framework, at a particle-length scale to assess the main process parameters’ impact. Following previous developments, virgin and used polymer granules with different viscosities are implemented to better represent the actual process feedstock. The results obtained agree with the available experimental data, leading to a powerful tool to study, in greater detail, the SLS process and its physical parameters and material properties, contributing to its optimization.