Laser sintering of LDS material

Since additive manufacturing process can provide plastic parts with more complexity than injection molding, MID process starting from AM process, instead of molding, has a great potential to improve shape complexity of MIDs. In this research, laser sintering of LDS compatible material was tested. A part with a density of 68% was successfully obtained. The surface of the obtained part was irradiated by fiber laser for laser activation. Non-galvanic copper plating successfully metallized the region irradiated by the laser. The other region, which was not irradiated, was not metallized. This proves that the previous laser sintering process does affect this activation process. Activation with CO2 laser was also tested. Successful activation was shown by precipitation of copper. This indicates that complexity of wiring of MID can be improved by activating LDS material layer by layer as building the parts also in a layer by layer fashion.