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Purpose This paper aims to achieve rapid design and manufacturing of personalized total knee femoral component.Design/methodology/approach On the basis of a patient’s bone model, a matching personalized knee femoral component was rapidly designed with the help of computer-aided design method, then manufactured directly and rapidly by selective laser melting (SLM). Considered SLM as manufacturing technology, CoCrMo-alloyed powder that meets ASTM F75 standard is made of femoral component under optimal processing parameters. The feasibility of SLM forming through conducting experimental test of mechanical properties, surface roughness, biological corrosion resistance was analyzed.Findings The result showed that the tensile strength, yield strength, hardness and biological corrosion resistance of CoCrMo-alloyed personalized femoral component fulfill knee joint prosthesis standard through post-processing.Originality/value Traditional standardized prosthesis implantation manufacturing approach was changed by computer-aided design and personalized SLM direct manufacturing, and provided a new way for personalized implanted prosthesis to response manufacturing rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to verify that additive manufacturing technology could be used for the redesign and rapid manufacturing of tools and determine whether the mechanical performance of such tools can satisfy the practical operating requirements. Design/methodology/approach – A special key was selected as the research object in this paper. The special key was innovatively redesigned and manufactured directly using selective laser melting (SLM). The function and critical geometries of the special key were first analysed, which was followed by discussions on the geometrical constraints in the manufacturing of typical geometrical features using SLM technology. Next, the special key was redesigned based on the SLM geometrical constraints and the functional requirements. Finally, the key was manufactured using SLM, and the mechanical performance characteristics of the key were determined. Findings – The minimal geometrical feature was 0.2 mm when manufacturing thin walls using SLM. The reliable building angle of an overhanging surface was 40°. The top surface quality of the part could be greatly improved through laser surface re-melting. The volume of the redesigned special key based on the SLM process was only one-third to one-fourth of the original key. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and micro-hardness, of the samples manufactured using SLM were able to reach the practical operating requirements. Originality/value – It is completely feasible to redesign and manufacture precision tools based on the innovative approach of SLM. The advantages of the redesigned tools includes the lack of design restrictions that hinder traditional manufacturing methods, material savings, ability to produce tools that cannot be easily copied and rapid production speed for a small number of tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]