Surface and subsurface features of micro electro drilled part produced by sls

Additive manufacturing processes are time-compression-technologies that create near-net shaped components from CAD models to product deposition. The main focus of this technology is to produce parts, as near as possible close to their final shape and contour, implementing non-chipping techniques. In this way the manufacturing gives the possibility of a finished product with minimal cutting. Near-net shape technology also generates the opportunity to reduce the productive steps for a given process chain. Both the abovementioned characteristics have the same main goal: achieving cost reduction. This fundamental target incorporates several other advantages, such as: reduction of process variability, quality improvement in the finished product and the possibility to focus the design of mechanical devices on functional features, eliminating technical constraints imposed by the process. Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is one of the most extensively used non-conventional material removal processes. In addition, EDM does not make direct contact between the electrode and the workpiece eliminating mechanical stresses, chatter and vibration problems during machining. Recent progress made in the field of aviation, space, automobile, electronics and computer, medical, optics, miniature manufacturing and others (Kumar, 2008; Emmelmann C. et al., 2009; Vandenbroucke B. et al., 2007) has created the need for small and micro-size holes with high aspect ratio in extremely hard and brittle materials. The increasing use of these alloys led to analyze, in this research, the effects of micro electro-discharge drilling on surface e subsurface features of Cr-Co-Mo specimen built by selective laser sintering. The ability to create near-net shape componenst in CrCo with additive manufacturing and the micro-drilling of the components are very recent. For this reason, are not present critical overview on the subject in the literature.