Fabrication of fine wires using direct laser melting process

摘要： With the rapid development of micro electro-mechanical-systems and micro system technology, parts made of micro-wire are widely applied in biomedical, automotive, and consumer electronics. Therefore, the manufacturing of micro-wire has played an important role in manufacturing micro parts. However, when dimensions of metal parts downscale to micro scale, the plastic deformation behaviors and thermal properties which dependent on the specimen size are different from those in the macro scale, and size effects occur. The direct laser melting process can directly build full-density, high-performance, complex metal parts by melting metal powder with laser scanning. This study investigated the direct laser melting method to fabricate fine linear-bead that can be potentially substituted for micro-wire has been investigated. Laser process parameters, such as laser power, laser scanning speed, powder grain size and powder layer thickness were found to be an important variable affecting shape of linear-bead. Surface shape and cross-sectional properties were analyzed using microscope and hardness tester.