Thomas & List,
Only Javelin/Lone Peak and CAM-LEM, Inc. appear to have
commercialized processes that form metal parts from lamination of
metal sheets, and both of these actually start from plastic sheets containing
metal powders rather than from solid steel. Javelin developed the SteamRoller
add-on unit for a Helisys machine, while we use an integrated machine
we developed. Both companies offer prototyping services commercially.
Although Ford touted their Precision Stratiform Machining process
some time ago, I don't know of anyone who markets this approach
or offers it commercially. However, I've seen companies using similar
techniques in-house, mostly for forming dies.
We have also generalized our layered process so that rather than
simply laser-cut and stack thin sheets of material, we can bond thicker
molded or machined sections of green powder-based material. During
conventional powder metal sintering, the sections fuse together to create
a solid component. Using green machining makes it easy to machine
any kind of metal, and offers a much better surface finish than any
layered process. The joining technique allows you to create parts
with a flexibility approaching other rapid prototyping systems.
One commercial software package, Millit, can automate the process
of splitting parts up for machining in this way. See www.millit.com.
Information about Javelin is at http://www.javelin3d.com/
We have more information at http://www.camlem.com
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Brian B. Mathewson
bbm@camlem.com
Engineer
CAM-LEM, Inc.
540 E. 105th St.
Cleveland, OH 44108
Tel: 216-268-2041
Fax: 216-851-5517
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas Himmer <thomas.himmer@sz-online.de>
To: rp-ml <rp-ml@bart.lpt.fi>
Date: Wednesday, September 06, 2000 2:28 AM
Subject: lamination of metal sheets
Dear All,
for a long time I was offline of this list. Now I am back again and I would like to know
if there is any progress concerning "lamination of metal sheets" or "metal LOM", especially
for the manufacturing of dies and molds.
I am interested in the "state of art" or if there are some research projects or commercial
systems exist.
Thank you very much for your help.
Best regards
________________________________
Thomas Himmer
Berchtesgadener Str. 25
01279 Dresden
Germany
E-Mail: thomas.himmer@sz-online.de
________________________________
For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
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