Powder Deposition and Sintering for a Two-Powder Approach to Solid Freeform Fabrication
Abstract
A two-powder approach is presented where Fused Deposition modeling (FDM) is used to
create a thin shell in the shape of the part to be fabricated. The shell is filled with powder of the
part material and surrounded by a support powder that has a high sintering temperature. Upon
compressing and sintering the shelVpowder system in a uniaxial hot press, the polymer shell burns
out and the support powder compresses the part powder. The part powder consolidates into the
desired part while the support material remains in powder form and can be easily removed. This
paper presents results ofinitial experimental studies.