Designing for 3D Printing: Direct Metal Laser Sintering

Posted on
Sept 28, 2016

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) is an industrial 3D printing technology that has potential to change the way parts are manufactured. Since DMLS is an additive manufacturing process, organic designs, complex features, and internal channels can often be easily created. Product designers and engineers can also reduce multipart assemblies into single components, which in turn, reduces product weight and assembly time.

In our presentation, we’ll set aside some of the conventional manufacturing design rules, as we explore how to get the most out of DMLS.

You will learn:

• How to design for DMLS, including surface finish and resolution considerations, internal features, stresses, and support requirements
• How to manufacture the unmanufacturable such as internal geometry for conformal cooling channels
• How 3D printing allows you to reduce the number of components in an assembly (BOM) by joining components
• How parts are built on a support structure and its impact

Speakers
David Bentley
DMLS Production Manager and Process Engineer
Proto Labs

David Bentley is the DMLS production manager and process engineer at rapid manufacturer Proto Labs’ 3D printing facility in Raleigh, NC. Bentley has more than 11 years of experience in the additive manufacturing industry, and is currently heading up the direct metal laser sintering division at Proto Labs. He has a BS degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina State University.