Patent ID: 8329092

Claim:
A metal laser-sintering process for producing a three-dimensional shaped object by repeating the steps of: irradiating a powder layer of a metal powder with a light beam to form a sintered layer, and thereby laminating the sintered layers, wherein the metal powder comprises an iron-based powder and at least one kind of powder selected from the group consisting of a nickel powder, a nickel-based alloy powder, a copper powder, a copper-based alloy powder and a graphite powder, a mean particle diameter of the iron-based powder being in the range of from 5 to 50 μm; and the iron-based powder has been annealed at an annealing temperature in the range from 600-700° C.; and machining a surface portion of the laminated sintered layers and/or removing an unnecessary portion of the laminated sintered layers.