Digital design and direct manufacturing of non-assembly mechanisms by selective laser melting

The theoretical models of the modern mechanism are becoming more difficult to be designed. The manufacturing feasibility largely constrains the design freedom. In order to liberate the design constraints of mechanisms and improve the innovation ability of the mechanical drive, in this paper, 3D CAD models which have been digital assembled and direct manufactured by selective laser melting are used to achieve non-assembly mechanisms. The clearance of the joint, the manufacturing direction and the manufacturing surface roughness are three important factors to be focused on in manufacturing metallic mechanism. Experiments verify that non-assembled metallic mechanisms can be manufactured by SLM, and have a certain mechanical bearing capacity. It provides a manufacturing method of choice for the development of mechatronics and MEMS.