Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: EOS Electro Optical Systems | Subject: Direct metal laser-sintering powders
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 12 October 2005
Metal and plastics laser sintering
powders arrive
For producing moulds and metal parts directly from CAD data by direct metal laser-sintering, new materials to open up additional applications in aerospace and medical industries.
For producing moulds and metal parts directly from CAD data by fusing successive layers of metal powder, a technique known as direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS), EOS is introducing new materials to open up additional application areas, particularly in the aerospace and medical industries Co-operation partners have analysed test parts and confirm promising results and considerable potential for these materials, which will be presented at EuroMold this year
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 12 Oct 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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Rapid prototyping goes into production too
Laser-sintering saves time and money for prototyping during product development, but can now also be used in production too. EOS will show how at the K 2001 show in Duesseldorf, Germany.
Laser sinter systems meet Formula One pressures
Two laser sintering systems - including a double-laser one - manufacture hour by hour racing car components directly from thermoplastic powders on the basis of three-dimensional CAD data.
Cobalt-chrome alloys, Inconel alloys and commercially pure titanium have already been successfully tested on the company's Eosint M 270 DMLS machine.
Titanium alloys such as Ti-318 (Ti-Al6-V4), which is widely used to make orthopaedic implants, are also being developed for laser-sintering.
Highlighted also will be several recent customer projects, including one where DMLS has been integrated for the first time into a glass squeeze forging process, which requires that the mould be subjected to temperatures of up to 1,300 deg C.
Further reading
Laser sintering expertise brought to the UK
German rapid prototyping systems maker is bringing a wealth of rapid manufacturing technology and experience based on laser-sintering machines and metals, plastics and sands powders.
Laser very fine grain metal powders to make moulds
TransCAT took only 16h using very fine-grained metal powders in a laser-sintering system to build the core and cavity of a plastics injection mould for producing thin-walled fan wheels.
More than 40 glass parts, in this case candle holders, have been produced from one such laser-sintered mould.
* World's first flame retardant plastics for laser-sintering - for laser-sintering of plastics materials used in rapid prototyping and batch manufacture, EOS has developed two new powders, one of which - a polyamide claimed to be the first ever flame retardant plastics material for laser-sintering - will make its first appearance at EuroMold 2005 It complies with relevant aerospace regulations such as JAR/FAR 25, Appendix F, Part 1 for flammability and Part 5 for smoke density as well as ABD0031/AITM 3.0005(2) (Airbus) and BSS 7239 (Boeing) for smoke toxicity.
Moreover, the classification V0 according to the UL94 specification is certified, which means that the material is qualified for end product applications in aircraft.
Wall thicknesses down to 2mm may be achieved with this material.
To be featured also at the show will be the recently released material, PrimePart, which offers reduced cost per part.
Beta customers have confirmed up to 40% reduction in powder consumption.
More and more users are confirming the benefits of plastics laser-sintered parts in series production, including design flexibility, short lead times and low production costs.
Product innovations are driving improvements in the technology, among them the latest Eosint P 385 laser-sintering machine together with a new version of the process software, PSW V3.2.
It has several new features that increase build speed, part quality and ease of use, offering increased productivity and part quality as well as more ease of use.
Detail resolution is also improved, especially for very small parts and features.
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