Selective laser sintering for the creation of solid models from 3D microscopic images.

An exciting application of using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to produce solid models of microscopic specimens imaged with a laser scanning confocal microscope is presented. The SLS model, fabricated by sintering together successive layers of a fine powder with a computer controlled scanning laser, is a true 3-D magnification of the microscopic sample. The 3-D models produced are accurate representations of the data and can be handled and manipulated to evaluate surface details and morphology. The models give an extremely powerful method for 3-D data visualization and tactilization. Three dimensional digital image processing is performed on microscopic images to prepare the data for the selective laser sintering process. The image processing techniques for preparing 3-D images of both translucent and opaque specimens for laser sintering are presented. For translucent specimens, the image processing removes noise and "fills in" inclusions and cavities within the specimen data in order to produce a structurally sound model. When imaging an opaque specimen an image of the upper surface alone is acquired. Image processing is used to remove noise and to Fill the volume under the specimen surface. Sample models of a dandelion (Taraxicum officinale Compositae) pollen grain and the surface of a U.S. penny are presented. These models present examples of both the translucent and opaque data types.