Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a multidimensional rapid prototyping (RPT) process forbuilding robust prototypes of polyamide (PA2200) material. The biggest challenge in thisprocess is the selection of right operating parameters to achieve the products in desired shape,size, and strength. To reduce the manufacturing cost and enhance the part quality in the SLS3D printing recycled powder material could be employed more efficiently. In this regard, aninvestigative model is necessary to insights into influence of process parameters on response.The development of an acceptable prototype is essential in any process of additivemanufacturing, it is directly related to its mechanical property tensile strength (TS) andveracity. Taguchi design technique with L9 (3x3) array model, the signal to noise (S/N) ratioand variance analysis (ANOVA), statistical tools are used. The effect of different factor levelson tensile strength are analyzed to attained optimal process parameters. The orientation factorhas the largest percentage contribution (80.44%), followed by the temperature factor (18.25%),and are significant parameters, while the refresh rate (percentage of fresh / original materialand single time used material blende by volume) parameter (1.01%) is insignificant for tensilestrength. The refresh rate is not an optimal factor but the factor level 30% refresh rate hasaffected on strength of SLS sintered parts produced from PA 2200 material and given more TS(49.8142 N/mm2) than the factor level 0% refresh rate (percentage of fresh/ original materialand 0% single time used material blende by volume) has given TS (48.5225 N/mm2). Thisinvestigation model has been proven that 30% material and its cost price saved.Keywords: Tensile strength, Rapid prototyping, Orientation, Bed temperature Refresh rate, Tensilestrength.
Narayana Battula (Mon,) studied this question.