Re: My 3D printer software done - lasers!

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Abby Katt
<cncgroupnospam2@...> wrote:

>
> I don't know the power calculations, but I'd guess you'd need more
>than 40W to fuse aluminum powder - though I may be wrong, powders may
>be somewhat insulating and thus prevent the aluminum from conducting
>away its heat as it would do if it were a homogenous chunk of metal.

You need a hell of a lot of power to even touch aluminium, it is
highly refective to 10.6um. I think they sometimes put metal in with
a binder, laser sinter the model then burn out the binder and
infiltrate with bronze something along those lines. Build yourself a
laser cutter first, that's enough of a challenge to be going along with.

Graham