Building prototypes and finished parts in a machine from powdered thermoplastics and metals that are cured by heat from a laser. From CAD drawings that have been cross sectioned into thousands of layers, the machine builds up the part by curing one layer at a time. Powder is added for the next layer, and at the end of the job, the excess powder is removed and recycled for the next product. Also called "selective laser sintering" (SLS), it is one of several additive fabrication technologies used in rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing. See 3D printing for an overview of the major methods.
Metal Laser Sintering
The EOSINT system from Electro Optical Systems (EOS) uses a laser beam to fuse metal powder into solid parts layer by layer. A variety of powders can be used from light steel alloys to strong composites. This water pump part was made from EOS MaragingSteel powder, which is an iron-based steel alloy that is known for its durability. The part was cut open to show its inner channels. (Images courtesy of EOS GmbH, www.eos.info)
Plastic Laser Sintering
This plastic shock absorber prototype was created in a 3D Systems Sinterstation. Plastic laser sintering is widely used for making prototypes for evaulating a design concept as well as to determine if the part works properly with other parts. For short runs, laser sintering is also used to make finished, plastic parts. (Image courtesy of 3D Systems, Inc., www.3dsystems.com)
Metal Laser Sintering
The EOSINT system from Electro Optical Systems (EOS) uses a laser beam to fuse metal powder into solid parts layer by layer. A variety of powders can be used from light steel alloys to strong composites. This water pump part was made from EOS MaragingSteel powder, which is an iron-based steel alloy that is known for its durability. The part was cut open to show its inner channels. (Images courtesy of EOS GmbH, www.eos.info)
Plastic Laser Sintering
This plastic shock absorber prototype was created in a 3D Systems Sinterstation. Plastic laser sintering is widely used for making prototypes for evaulating a design concept as well as to determine if the part works properly with other parts. For short runs, laser sintering is also used to make finished, plastic parts. (Image courtesy of 3D Systems, Inc., www.3dsystems.com)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- UPS saves $30M and goes Green with new HP printing and scanning handheld
- UPS partnered with Hewlett-Packard on the new sp400 All-in-One wireless handheld laser barcode scanner combo that can print directly onto packages, which saves paper and streamlines UPS's shipping processes. With all of the news of major corporations losing vast amounts of money...
- Blog posts 2008-11-18
- A protein version of a Vermeer masterwork
- Canadian scientists have recreated a famous painting from Vermeer on the microscale by using a new protein patterning technique. In fact, they've used a new laser method to draw protein pictures. And to illustrate the precision of their protein patterning technique, the research team reproduced 'Girl with a Pearl Earring,'...
- Blog posts 2008-11-12
- Cartridge recycling catching on. HP evolves program to handle growing volume.
- If you're the owner of an inkjet or multifunction printer from Hewlett-Packard, those little green recycling packets that you find in your replacement ink cartridge packages are about to go away. That's because the company's imaging group has begun piloting a new HP Planet Partners print and cartridge return program...
- Blog posts 2008-11-11
- Robot helicopters flying low among obstacles
- According to New Scientist, engineers at Carnegie Mellon University CMU have modified an unmanned commercial civilian helicopter to fly fast and low while avoiding obstacles such as buildings, trees or power lines. The unmanned aerial vehicle UAV from Yamaha has been adapted to integrate a sensing system able to see...
- Blog posts 2008-11-11
- RichardSolo bumps capacity of iPhone battery
- The RichardSolo 1800 backup battery for the iPhone and iPod (US$69.99) doubles the capacity of the its earlier iPhone batteries reviewed in July and September. The new model's impressive 1800 mAh battery has 50 percent more power than the previous 1200 mAh model, which is still being offered for US$49.99....
- Blog posts 2008-11-10
- Robo (Palm OS) (exe)
- This engaging puzzle contains over seventy diverse levels, a huge variety of brain twisting tasks and superb graphics. Let's help two loving cybernetic hearts to find each other. So Robo has to save Eny, who is kidnapped by the evil Discharger, and now held in the underground compound which is...
- Software downloads 2008-11-07
- Robo (Windows Mobile) (exe)
- This engaging puzzle contains over seventy diverse levels, a huge variety of brain twisting tasks and superb graphics. Let's help two loving cybernetic hearts to find each other. So Robo has to save Eny, who is kidnapped by the evil Discharger, and now held in the underground compound which is...
- Software downloads 2008-11-07
- Using lasers to watch electrons in action
- Using lasers to watch electrons in actionCool!If this works nicely on even shorter timescales attosecond switching or below, a whole new avenue into chemistry, especially biochemistry, will open up.Exciting.P.S.: For those who don't know, a "faster laser" means a laser that generates shorter pulses of light.
- Discussion threads 2008-11-03
- Do you change printer ink when you're told? If so, it's costing you
- A superb bit of gadgety investigative work done by PC World reveals that if you listen when your printer tells you you're out of ink, you may be wasting up to 40 percent of the cartridge. Wondering just how far a user can push it when it...
- Blog posts 2008-11-03
- JVC Everio GZ-MG730 (30GB, black)
- Standard-definition camcorders tend to have relatively low-resolution image sensors, but JVC bucks that trend with its top-of-the-line Everio G-series hybrid hard-drive/flash-memory camcorder, the GZ-MG730. Instead of a more typical 1-megapixel or 680,000-pixel sensor, the MG730 uses a 7-megapixel model with the goal of giving consumers a combination camcorder and a...
- Product reviews 2008-10-31
- Mitsubishi's LaserVue HDTV is finally shipping
- It's been a long, long time, but Mitsubishi has finally made its laser-based HDTV, the 65-inch LaserVue, available to the public, for a price that's laser-focused on bleeding-edge types' deep wallets: $6,999. As you can probably surmise, the LaserVue uses lasers as its...
- Blog posts 2008-10-28
- Blu-ray is dead - heckuva job, Sony!
- Blu-ray is in a death spiral. 12 months from now Blu-ray will be a videophile niche, not a mass market product. With only a 4% share of US movie disc sales and HD download capability arriving, the Blu-ray disc Association BDA is still smoking dope. Even $150...
- Blog posts 2008-10-28
- Google settles book scan suit for $125 million
- Google settles book scan suit for $125 millionwhat about BiblioBazaar ?Hi Larry,When I read this;"With this agreement, in-copyright, out-of-print books will now be available for readers in the U.S. to search, preview and buy online — something that was simply unavailable to date."-- interesting perspective, but there are companies out...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-28
- Asian printer consumables market grew 5% YTY
- The printer consumables market in Asia/Pacific region grew about 5% YOY to reach 46 mln units in Q2 2008. Inkjet cartridge remained dominant, accounting for 80% of the total printer consumables market or close to 37 mln units. Strong growth continued in the laser toner market with 18% growth YOY...
- Blog posts 2008-10-28
- News to know: Microsoft's outlook, emergency patch; Apple; Amazon's cloud; Yang speaks
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily: Sam Diaz: Fake Steve Jobs heart attack story posted by teenager. Bloomberg: Jobs Said to Be Targeted by Teen in Heart-Attack Tale Jason O'Grady: SEC examining teen's motive in fake...
- Blog posts 2008-10-24
- Lexmark releases new laser printers with built-in Draft N Wi-Fi
- The days when printers with network connectivity were intended just for the corporate world are quickly coming to a close as more and more manufacturers not only add an Ethernet port to their offerings, but are placing Wi-Fi chips in units as well. Among the rash of new laser printers...
- Blog posts 2008-10-23
- No FireWire over Ethernet; but maybe in Snow Leopard
- No FireWire over Ethernet; but maybe in Snow LeopardLicense fees???"Most believe that Apple doesn’t want to pay the FireWire licensing fees (believed to be around 25 cents a port)"Um, didn't Apple invent firewire? People pay *them*...RE: No FireWire over Ethernet; but maybe in Snow LeopardA few historical facts about FW:Firewire...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-20
- Falcon Northwest FragBox 2 (Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650)
- With Intel's new processors just a few short weeks away, it's hard to get that excited about spending $4,000 or so on a high-end gaming PC now. That doesn't mean that we can't appreciate what Falcon Northwest has done with its highest-end FragBox 2. Thanks to a pair of Radeon...
- Product reviews 2008-10-14
- 1099 Etc (EXE)
- The W-2/1099 Forms Filer is a complete database system that generates all 1099, W-2, and related forms. The W-2/1099 Forms Filer has an easy-to-use, menu-driven, format that simplifies the selection of payers and forms. Add in support for After the Fact payroll, E Filing, and Laser Generation. Rated 5 of...
- Software downloads 2008-10-14
- Shadowgrounds Survivor demo (exe)
- Prepare yourself for the all-out alien slaughtering spin off/sequel to Shadowgrounds, with new characters, new creatures, new threats, and packed with new environments. Shadowgrounds Survivor takes the battle against aliens to new heights. Join three battle-hardened survivors on Ganymede and fight back with a full arsenal of exciting weaponry and...
- Software downloads 2008-10-13
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Do more. Sacrifice less
-
"Intel® Xeon® processor-based servers are optimized for virtualization and allow IT to load more virtual machines without sacrificing speed. They can also help you save time and money while delivering great performance, flexibility, and headroom for growth.
- See the benefits of hardware-based virtualization >>
CIO Sessions
- Check out our video interviews with leading CIOs today!
-
Differentiating Technorati from Google Technorati VP of Engineering: Dorion Carroll 11:50 -
On the Issues: From Net neutrality to bandwidth caps Qwest CTO: Pieter Poll 11:50 -
How to process over 300 million transactions per day Visa CIO: Michael Dreyer 11:30 -
Adopting collaboration tools in the enterprise Cisco CIO: Rebecca Jacoby 12:35 - All CIO Sessions »
