From: dkleigh@harvest-tech.com
Date: Mon May 14 2007 - 14:51:21 EEST
There are at least 2 other benefits:
1. The density and part volume are typically smaller. By designing
to reduce weight, the lifetime support costs of carrying excess weight
around in vehicles on the ground or in the air is reduced.
2. Some (if not all) of the nylons used in the SLS process are
agricultural based products and not petroleum based. I'm not 100% of
the name of the bean used and what is done to produce the crop, but
I'm guessing that there is some overall benefit.
Quoting Ian Gibson <mpegi@nus.edu.sg>:
> Jordi
>
> I can think of one. By having localised supply, we can perhaps see the
> reduction in transport requirements for goods from manufacturing
> centres to distribution centres. For example, most goods are currently
> manufactured in Asia and consumed in US and Europe. If they were
> actually made in US and Europe, we wouldn't have all the fuel spent
> (and associated emissions and greenhouse effect) in transporting them
> there. RM would be an ideal way of distributed manufacture. Yes,
> individual product costs may be high, but not so sure about the overall
> carbon footprint.
>
> IG
>
> At 02:37 PM 5/14/2007, you wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> Between the advantages of Rapid Manufacturing (together with the
>> other additive technologies: Rapid Repairing, Cladding at the
>> surface for tools, molds...), I believe that it might represent a
>> potential benefit over natural environment (direct or indirect):
>> reduction of wasted material during conventional machining,
>> extended life (coatings), lightweight structures (and thus
>> reduction of the fuel consumption), better efficiency (cooling
>> channels)...
>>
>> Most of the case studies that I have seen focusses on the
>> economical (or time saving) benefits. Are you aware of any report
>> that focusses on the (concrete) benefits of Rapid Manufacturing on
>> the environment?
>>
>> Best,
>>
>> Jordi
>> Dr.Jordi Figueras
>> Technical Manager- IDEKO
>> Arriaga Kalea 2
>> E-20870 ELGOIBAR (Gipuzkoa)
>> SPAIN
>
> Associate Professor Ian Gibson
> Department of Mechanical Engineering
> National University of Singapore
>
> Tel: +65 92777343
>
> Don't look around to find the sound that's right beneath your feet
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