Selective Laser Melting: A regular unit cell approach for the manufacture of porous, titanium, bone in-growth constructs, suitable for orthopedic applications

2009 ◽  
Vol 89B (2) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lewis Mullen ◽  
Robin C. Stamp ◽  
Wesley K. Brooks ◽  
Eric Jones ◽  
Christopher J. Sutcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Porous Titanium ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Orthopedic Applications

scholarly journals Influence of Microarchitecture on Osteoconduction and Mechanics of Porous Titanium Scaffolds Generated by Selective Laser Melting

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 142-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael de Wild ◽  
Simon Zimmermann ◽  
Jasmine Rüegg ◽  
Ralf Schumacher ◽  
Thea Fleischmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Porous Titanium ◽  
Laser Melting

Synthesis of Porous Titanium with Directional Pores by Selective Laser Melting

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takayuki Nakamoto ◽  
◽  
Nobuhiko Shirakawa ◽  
Kyosuke Kishida ◽  
Katsushi Tanaka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Practical Importance ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
High Strength ◽  
Longitudinal Direction ◽  
Porous Titanium ◽  
Thin Layers ◽  
Implant Fixation ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Low Modulus

There has been a growing interest and practical importance in producing implants such as artificial joints, bone fixators and spinal fixators with titanium. In order to achieve good bone/implant fixation while avoiding the problem of bone absorption, it is mandatory to reduce the Young’s modulus of titanium while keeping the high strength so as to achieve the compatibility in these mechanical properties with human cortical bone. We have tried to fabricate porous titanium with directional pores by the use of the method based on Selective Laser Melting (SLM), in which complex three-dimensional parts even containing designed shapes of pores can be produced by sintering successive thin layers of metal powder with a laser beam. Here we show that porous titanium with directional pores aligned in the longitudinal direction of the ingot is successfully produced through the use of the SLM process and that high strength and low modulus comparable to those of human bone are simultaneously achieved when these properties are measured in the longitudinal direction of the ingot.

Effects of the unit cell topology on the compression properties of porous Co-Cr scaffolds fabricated via selective laser melting

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changjun Han ◽  
Chunze Yan ◽  
Shifeng Wen ◽  
Tian Xu ◽  
Shuai Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Size ◽  
Selective Laser Melting ◽  
Unit Cell ◽  
Porous Scaffolds ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Laser Melting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Compression Properties ◽  
Fe Simulations ◽  
Cell Topology

Purpose Selective laser melting (SLM) is an additive manufacturing process suitable for fabricating metal porous scaffolds. The unit cell topology is a significant factor that determines the mechanical property of porous scaffolds. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of unit cell topology on the compression properties of porous Cobalt–chromium (Co-Cr) scaffolds fabricated by SLM using finite element (FE) and experimental measurement methods. Design/methodology/approach The Co-Cr alloy porous scaffolds constructed in four different topologies, i.e. cubic close packed (CCP), face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC) and spherical hollow cubic (SHC), were designed and fabricated via SLM process. FE simulations and compression tests were performed to evaluate the effects of unit cell topology on the compression properties of SLM-processed porous scaffolds. Findings The Mises stress predicted by FE simulations showed that different unit cell topologies resulted in distinct stress distributions on the bearing struts of scaffolds, whereas the unit cell size directly determined the stress value. Comparisons on the stress results for four topologies showed that the FCC unit cell has the minimum stress concentration due to its inclined bearing struts and horizontal arms. Simulations and experiments both indicated that the compression modulus and strengths of FCC, BCC, SHC, CCP scaffolds with the same cell size presented in a descending order. These distinct compression behaviors were correlated with the corresponding mechanics response on bearing struts. Two failure mechanisms, cracking and collapse, were found through the results of compression tests, and the influence of topological designs on the failure was analyzed and discussed. Finally, the cell initial response of the SLM-processed Co-Cr scaffold was tested through the in vitro cell culture experiment. Originality/value A focus and concern on the compression properties of SLM-processed porous scaffolds was presented from a new perspective of unit cell topology. It provides some new knowledge to the structure optimization of porous scaffolds for load-bearing bone implants.

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