Process Control System for a High Temperature Workstation performing the Selective Laser Sintering Process

Thispaper describes the design and implementation ofa Computer Process Control System for a High Temperature Workstation performing Selective Laser Sintering of metal and .ceramic powders. As compared to our previous machine [1], the increased complexity and sophistication .of·the.new workstation [21 requires a variety of measurement and control devices which are.interfaced to a process controlcomputer. Among these are a. gas analyzer, a data logger, a step motor controllerandaCNC controller. This process control system incorporates a XView ( aX Window System Toolkit) based Graphical User Interface which allows the user.to set and change process parameters on-line as well as receive graphical feedback onthe process.