R_Bibb_Medical_Modelling_The_Application_of_Adv.pdf

236 Medical modelling
6.87 RPD oriented and supported to avoid the fi tting surfaces.
First experiment
316L stainless steel was selected for the fi rst experiment for its excellent
corrosion resistance making it suitable for dental applications. In addition,
the SLM TM machine manufacturers have shown that the material is well
suited to processing by SLM TM . The part and support fi les were ‘sliced and
hatched’ using the SLM TM Realizer software with a layer thickness of
0.050 mm. The material used was 316L stainless steel spherical powder with
a maximum particle size of 0.045 mm (particle size range 0.005–0.045 mm)
and a mean particle size of approximately 0.025 mm (Sandvik Osprey Ltd,
Red Jacket Works, Milland Road, Neath, SA11 1NJ, United Kingdom).
The laser had a maximum scan speed of 300 mm/s and a beam diameter
0.150–0.200 mm. The fi rst two parts attempted were partially successful due
to insuffi cient support and erroneous slice data. These errors resulted in
incomplete RPDs. The third attempt was prepared with more support and
the data was sliced using different software (VisCAM RP, Marcam
Engineering GmbH, Fahrenheitstrasse 1, D-28359 Bremen, Germany).
This proved successful and produced a complete stainless steel RPD framework,
shown in Fig. 6.88.