The purpose of this email is to introduce you to Optomec’s Laser
Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) technology.
Developed at Sandia National Labs and commercialized by Optomec, LENS is
a revolutionary technology which produces fully dense metal parts, with
outstanding mechanical properties directly from a CAD file. A high
powered laser beam is focused onto a metal substrate where metallic
powder is injected under computer control to build 3D parts, layer by
layer.
LENS is being commercialized by Optomec Design Company to address a wide
range of applications including:
* Tooling applications for Injection Mold Tooling and Die Casting
where LENS' unique Thermal Management and hard facing capabilities can
improve cycle times by 50% and extend mold life. Flood Zone Cooling
and gradient material deposition are unique capabilities of LENS
technology.
* Repair and Overhaul applications due to LENS' nd:YAG small Heat
Affected Zone (HAZ), allowing for higher yield and superior part
repairs.
* "Functional" Prototyping and Short Run Manufacturing
made possible due to producing fully dense metal parts with outstanding
mechanical properties (high strength & ductility), not found with
Rapid Prototyping systems. With LENS produced parts, you can test
part functionality in high stress and high thermal environments.
* Material Research to address a wide range of current and
emerging applications. LENS' ability to provide multiple material
gradient deposition offers unique material research options.
The LENS technology can achieve 100% densities, superior hardness and
better ductility for many metals and alloys, including Titanium.
For example, due to the LENS process, 30% stronger Titanium (Ti-6A1-4V)
parts can be fabricated compared to traditional methods. Parts made
up of two or more discreet materials, or processed as a gradient, can
also be fabricated for optimum thermal management and electrical
conductivity applications.
In the high cost, high performance parts market, repairs can now be
accomplished by adding the same part material where needed without
causing thermal stress or micro-cracking. The LENS part repair
fabrication process can significantly reduce post processing time,
therefore improving part recycle time. Novel applications for the
LENS technology are being investigated. For example, a Small
Business Innovative Research (SBIR) contract has chartered Optomec to
investigate the ability to embed sensors (ie: thermo couplers, strain
gauges) directly into parts during the LENS fabrication process.
For the above reasons, in December 1998, Optomec received the prestigious
annual "Top 25 Technologies" award from IndustryWeek. The
article can be seen at:
http://www.industryweek.com/CurrentArticles/asp/articles.asp?ArticleID=364
In May 1999, Optomec received the Photonics Spectra Circle of Excellence
Award, honoring the 25 most innovative photonic products of the
year.
An interesting article regarding LENS technology can be seen at:
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9907/Hofmeister/Hofmeister-9907.html
Thank you for your interest and consideration.
Best Regards,
Rich Plourde
Optomec Design Company
10229 Queens Camel Court
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Phone:(410)465-9557
FAX:(410)465-9599
Cell/Pager:(410)336-2435
Email: rplourde@optomec.com
http://www.optomec.com
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Tue Jun 05 2001 - 23:02:36 EEST