Sintered titanuim beads, SEM (C021/5671) Mug

Additive manufacturing surface. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of sintered beads of pure titanium on the fracture surface of a metal component. Sometimes confused with 3D printing, additive manufacture is used to form high strength metal components by using a high energy computer guided laser to sinter together metal powders made up of tiny beads. These beads are on an unfinished surface, which would typically be precision machined to a smooth surface once the initial component is created layer by layer. Image width is 155 microns.