In this work, we examined the influence of different types of selective laser melting (SLM) devices on the microstructure and the associated material properties of austenitic 316L stainless steel. Specimens were built using powder from the same powder batch on four different SLM machines. For the specimen build-up, optimized parameter sets were used, as provided by the manufacturers for each individual SLM machine. The resulting microstructure was investigated by means of scanning electron microscopy, which revealed that the different samples possess similar microstructures. Differences between the microstructures were found in terms of porosity, which significantly influences the material properties. Additionally, the build-up direction of the specimens was found to have a strong influence on the mechanical properties. Thus, the defect density defines the material’s properties so that the ascertained characteristic values were used to determine a Weibull modulus for the corresponding values in dependence on the build-up direction. Based on these findings, characteristic averages of the mechanical properties were determined for the SLM-manufactured samples, which can subsequently be used as reference parameters for designing industrially manufactured components.

We report on an experimental study and statistical optimization of the surface roughness using design of experiments and the Taguchi method for parts made of 1.2709 maraging steel. We employ a hybrid additive manufacturing approach that combines additive manufacturing by selective laser melting with subtractive manufacturing using milling in an automated process within a single machine. Input parameters such as laser power, scan speed, and hatching distance have been varied in order to improve surface quality of unmachined surfaces. Cutting speed, feed per tooth, and radial depth of cut have been varied to optimize surface roughness of the milled surfaces. The surfaces of the samples were characterized using 3D profilometry. Scan speed was determined as the most important parameter for non-machined surfaces; radial depth of cut was found to be the most significant parameter for milled surfaces. Areal surface roughness S a could be reduced by up to 40% for unmachined samples and by 23% for milled samples as compared to the prior state of the art.

We report on the exemplified realization of a digital to physical process chain for a patient individualized osteosynthesis plate for the tarsal bone area. Anonymized patient-specific data of the right feet were captured by computer tomography, which were then digitally processed to generate a surface file format (standard tessellation language, STL) ready for additive manufacturing. Physical realization by selective laser melting in titanium using optimized parameter settings and post-processing by stress relief annealing results in a customized osteosynthesis plate with superior properties fulfilling medical demands. High fitting accuracy was demonstrated by applying the osteosynthesis plate to an equally good 3D printed bone model, which likewise was generated using the patient-specific computer tomography (CT) data employing selective laser sintering and polyamid 12. Proper fixation has been achieved without any further manipulation of the plate using standard screws, proving that based on CT data, individualized implants well adapted to the anatomical conditions can be accomplished without the need for additional steps, such as bending, cutting and shape trimming of precast bone plates during the surgical intervention. Beyond parameter optimization for selective laser melting, this exemplified digital to physical process chain highlights the potential of additive manufacturing for individualized osteosynthesis.

We present studies on the propagation of plasmon waves in metallic multimode waveguides surrounded by a dielectric medium. The permittivity of the metal was determined by a Drude model. The propagation was simulated by the method of lines. The propagating field exhibited the well-known self-imaging phenomenon known as the Talbot effect. The metallic waveguides are lossy. The influence of various parameters on the losses was examined. By a suitable choice of parameters, propagation distances of several Talbot periods are possible. Our investigation also includes simulations for the propagation of eigenmodes of the waveguides and results for the calculation of the effective index.

Coupling of THz radiation at 625 GHz onto a copper wire is demonstrated. The end-fire technique is used in combination with an axicon to excite the azimuthally polarised surface plasmon polaritons on the wire's front facet. A small lateral offset of the wire relative to the optical axis is used to achieve significant plasmon excitation. Coupling efficiencies of about 17% were measured. The coupling mechanism is discussed theoretically using the overlap integral and verify plasmonic excitation and propagation by measuring the radiated field at the wire end.