Geometry Processing for SLS/HIP

SLS/HIP is a new net shape manufacturing method that combines the strengths of direct selective laser sintering and hot isostatic pressing. Direct selective laser sintering is a rapid manufacturing technique that can produce high density metal parts of complex geornetry with an integral, gas iinpenneable skin. These parts can then be directly post-processed by containerless HIP. Sophisticated processing of the part geometry is required to facilitate the desired results from SLS/HIP. This paper presents geometry processing algorithms being developed for in-situ canning of SLS/HIP components. This research is funded by DARPA IONR contract NO00 14-95-C-0 139 titled "Low Cost Metal Processing Using SLS/HIP".