Laser Micro Sintering was introduced to the international community of freeform fabrication engineers in 2003 and has since been employed for a variety of applications. It owes its unique features to certain effects of q-switched pulses that formerly had been considered detrimental in selective laser sintering. Besides sub-micrometer sized powders also materials with grain sizes of 1-10 micrometers can be sintered. Surface and morphology of the product are influenced by grain size and process environment. First results have been achieved with processing ceramic materials. A comprehensive overview of the process and the features is given supported by experimental evidence. Routes of further development are indicated.

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Precision tools with structural resolution reaching the 20 micrometer range can be generated on an industrial scale by "laser micro sintering". Components featuring aspect ratios above 12 and a roughness R a down to 1.5 micrometers have already been produced from sub micrometer grained metal powders. The components can be generated either firmly attached to a substrate or fixed in an easily separable mode. If supporting structures are employed, undercuts up to 90° are feasible, without, a process parameter dependent maximum angles of undercut below 90° are obtained. The process has been introduced into the market, labeled microSINTERING by 3D-Micromac AG.

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