Product category:
Fast prototyping equipment, pattern-making and services
News Release from: EOS Electro Optical Systems | Subject: Direct metal laser-sintering
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 13 November 2006
Direct metal laser-sintering enters
dentistry
Direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS), a layer manufacturing process, has advanced into 'e-manufacturing' of customized series of dental products out of metal.
The Clean Alternative Dental technology -forerunner of e-Manufacturing for metal products Direct Metal Laser-Sintering (DMLS), a layer manufacturing process, first originated as a method of rapid tooling and rapid prototyping It has advanced via a multitude of innovations to be the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast and cost-effective direct production from electronic data
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 12 Nov 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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Products produced directly from electronic data
'e-Manufacturing' describes the fast, flexible and economical production of products, moulds/tooling or patterns for all phases of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data.
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.
Sirona Dental Systems uses laser-sintering to manufacture customized series products out of metal.
The firm has been producing dental prostheses in a special cobalt-chrome alloy, which has increased the efficiency of dental laboratories.
When Dr Guenter Saliger goes to the dentist, his thoughts revolve around the issues of process optimization and materials development.
Further reading
Laser metal sintering made functional prototype
Relying heavily on direct metal laser-sintering a subcontractor delivered a functional prototype electronic lockbox that spurred a successful product launch for the customer at an important show.
Rapid prototyping and manufacturing launched
Rapid prototyping and manufacturing to produce metal components directly from CAD models using a direct metal laser-sintering machine features an industrial service set up recently.
And for a good reason; the physicist works in the CAD/CAM division at Sirona Dental Systems, one of the leading manufacturers in the field of dental technology.
He is responsible for the production service infiniDent.
The name represents a unique range of services offered in which Saliger and his team of eight assume the role of extended workbench for dental laboratories throughout Europe.
Since 2004, with modern technology and special production facilities, they have been making crown copings and bridges out of ceramic materials such as zirconium oxide and aluminium oxide on behalf of dental laboratory technicians.
The fact that, since summer of this year, infiniDent's fabrication center can now manufacture dental prostheses out of metal is tantamount to a mini revolution.
This breakthrough has been made possible by a close collaboration with the German systems manufacturer EOS (Electro Optical Systems).
The company, whose headquarters are located in Krailling in Bavaria, is the leading representative of laser-sintering technology.
It delivers complete systems solutions to key industries such as the medical technology, aerospace and automotive.
Originally, the EOS machines were implemented for rapid prototyping and rapid tooling in the context of development processes.
Today the trend is moving towards batch-sized optimized series production: e-Manufacturing.
In the area of plastics, laser-sintering based e-Manufacturing is very much an established term.
In the manufacture of metal parts it is just beginning to gain a foothold as a replacement process - for example as a clean, efficient alternative to casting.
And that is exactly the crucial point in the case of Sirona.
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