What additive manufacturing method involves sintering granulated material to create a part?

The additive manufacturing method that involves sintering granulated material to create a part is powder bed fusion (PBF). This technique works by spreading a layer of powdered material on a build platform, and then a heat source, such as a laser or electron beam, selectively fuses the powder particles together at specific locations according to the part's design. The process is repeated layer by layer, building the part from the bottom up.

PBF is widely utilized for metals and thermoplastics and is known for producing high-density parts with good mechanical properties. The sintering aspect is essential as it allows the powder particles to bond without reaching the melting point, which is particularly beneficial for materials that require a controlled thermal environment.

In contrast, material jetting involves depositing droplets of materials to create parts, while continuous liquid interface production is based on curing liquid resin rather than sintering granulated material. Direct energy deposition utilizes focused energy to melt materials as they are deposited, but it does not specifically rely on sintering processes. Each of these methods has its unique processes and applications, which differentiates them fundamentally from powder bed fusion.