Alumide Sinterization Aspects According to Layer Orientation, in Rapid Prototyping Process

The paper presents a study on how the orientations of the building layers are influencing the mechanical properties and the structure of the part. In this way, a cylindrical part was built in three positions: vertical, horizontal an 45 degrees using EOS Formiga P100 machine. The samples were both mechanical tested on compression and subjected to metallographic analysis. The compression tests reveal the particular behaviour of the samples, according to the layer orientation in relation to direction of the load. The metallographic analysis shows structural aspects of alumide, the presents of pores, the shape and orientation of the aluminium particles. The study concludes that by using various orientations of the part in the building process, we may establish a compromise relation between the geometrical accuracy of the part and its mechanical properties.