Investigations in selective laser melting as manufacturing technology for the production of high-temperature mechatronic integrated devices

Additive manufacturing (AM) has the potential to lead significant changes in the present state-of-the-art production processes. This provides tool-free and direct manufacturing of complex geometries simultaneously integrating various functions into components. Though AM techniques are widely used in various sectors, the applicability into electronics production has been not yet explored. In this paper, the results of the investigations towards additive manufacturing technology namely `Selective Laser Melting (SLM)' used to produce ceramic substrates for high temperature electronic applications are summarized. This paper introduces a new substrate production technology consisting of a ceramic base with additively constructed metal conductive patterns through SLM. The process flow and the influential factors are discussed. Preliminary results in the development of demonstrator and soldering of electronics components are also summarized.