Qualitative and quantitative analyses are required to develop Selective Laser
Sintering into a viable Manufacturing process. A simplified mathematical model for
sintering incorporating the heat tJ;ansfer equation. and the sintering rate equation, but using
temperature independent thermal properties, is presented in this paper. A practical result is
the calculation of sintering depthdeftned as the depth of powder where the void fraction is
less than 0.1 as a function of control parameters, such as the laser power intensity, the laser
scanning velocity, and the initial bedtemperature. We derive the general behavior of laser
sintering. A comparison of model predictions with laser sinterlng tests is provided.Mechanical Engineerin
