Surface Finish Analysis of Surgical Tools Created by Direct Metal Laser Sintering and Subtractive Manufacturing

Abstract

Surgical tools are critical, life saving instruments. Many surgical tools require low average roughness values which require multiple manufacturing processes in order to be attained. If this smooth surface finish could be attained through additive manufacturing it would decrease manufacturing cost and increase manufacturing speed. The goal of this study was to analyze the surface characteristics of test parts produced through traditional manufacturing processes and compare them to parts from a Direct Metal Laser Sintered (DMLS) machine. All surface roughness testing was done with a Taylor Hobson TalySurf FTS-50 profilometer and analyzed using UltraVerse software. This was achieved using the technical expertise of direct digital manufacturing at the MSOE Rapid Prototyping Center and the casting and materials analysis expertise at NFTDC.