Beecroft, M., 2016.

3D printing of weft knitted textile based structures by selective laser sintering of nylon powder

3D printing is a form of additive manufacturing whereby the building up of layers of
material creates objects. The selective laser sintering process (SLS) uses a laser beam to sinter
powdered material to create objects. This paper builds upon previous research into 3D printed
textile based material exploring the use of SLS using nylon powder to create flexible weft
knitted structures. The results show the potential to print flexible textile based structures that
exhibit the properties of traditional knitted textile structures along with the mechanical
properties of the material used, whilst describing the challenges regarding fineness of printing
resolution. The conclusion highlights the potential future development and application of such
pieces.