Caterpillar Inc.
Laser sintering of intricate parts

Abstract:

Additive manufacturing creates, repairs, or upgrades parts. Conventional manufacturing processes are used to prepare a body of the part and additive manufacturing processes are used to prepare intricate geometries of the part. A support structure is used to support the intricate features during the additive manufacturing processes. Particularly, laser sintering is used to create entire parts or to create a repaired or upgraded part by casting the body of the part and integrating the body with a build plate and using laser sintering to develop the intricate features necessary.