Direct Manufacture of Non-Assembly Mechanism by Selective Laser Melting

Abstract

Mechanism that is designed and assembled digitally and lately manufactured directly without post-assembly is called non-assembly mechanism. Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is a desirable technology for manufacturing non-assembly mechanisms directly as it can make complex functional parts directly. The critical factors of manufacturing non-assembly mechanisms by SLM such as display strategy and dimensional accuracy of clearance character are investigated in this paper. Non-assembly mechanisms such as Copper Cash Abacus and Collapsible Abacus, planar linkages (slider-crank, crank-rocker, rocker-slider) and universal joint, etc are freely designed and are manufactured by DiMetal-100 series SLM equipment. It is shown that SLM can not only manufacture parts with complex structures successfully, but also can manufacture non-assembly mechanisms with motion performance directly. It provides a feasible method for the digital design and integrated fabrication of mechanical and electronic products.