The Boeing Company

Bryan E Ake

Steven C Low

Neal W Muylaert

Reid W Williams

Richard J Nord

Blair E Thompson

Jerry G Clark

A method of sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and a sintered 17-4PH sintered part are disclosed. The part is formed by selective laser sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and binder mixture to form a green part that is sintered to form a part having a substantially pure martensitic structure. The metal powder includes boron. The sintered part may be further processed by shot peening to improve crack resistance.

Direct to metal sintering of 17-4PH steel

A temperature control system for use in a selective laser sintering machine is provided that comprises a thermocouple disposed within a part bed of the selective laser sintering machine and a temperature transmitter in communication with the thermocouple. The temperature transmitter is incorporated into existing control circuitry of the selective laser sintering machine, and the control circuitry is in communication with control logic, which controls the part bed temperature, among other process parameters. In operation, the thermocouple senses and communicates the part bed temperature to the temperature transmitter, and the control circuitry communicates the part bed temperature to the control logic to control part bed temperature during a part build.

Thermocouple control system for selective laser sintering part bed temperature control

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Gilbert, AZ, United States of America

Bryan E Ake