Solid Freeform Manufacturing

1. Introduction. 2. Advanced Manufacturing Technology: The State of the Art. Complex machining with NC technology. Application of new physical principles. Comparison of NC technology and solid freeform manufacturing. Importance of solid freeform manufacturing. 3. Solid Freeform Manufacturing. Historical development. Principle and terms. Features and possibilities for classification. 4. Industrial Application of SFM Techniques. Point-by point layer solidifcation: Stereolithography. Stereolithography (3D systems). Stereography - EOS. Solid object UV laser plotter (SOUP - CMET Japan). Solid creation system SCS (D-MEC CAD). Computer operated laser active modelling machine (COLAMM) - Mitsui Engineering. 5. Illumination of Planes. General principle. Solid ground curing processes: SMP solider 5600. Light sculpting (LSJ). 6. Solidification of Powder or other Materials. General remarks. Selective laser sintering - SLS-sinterstation 2000. Fused deposition modelling (FDM). Laminated object manufacturing - LOM. 3-D printing. Ballistic particle manufacturing - BPM. 7. General Tasks for Process Realization. The process chain for SFM procedures and integration aspects. Geometrical modelling. Process planning and operational planning. 8. Application Areas. General aspects. Design support. Function models. Manufacturing models. Finishing process possibilities. Comparison with other manufacturing processes. 9. Manufacturing Materials. Fluids. Powder, wire and laminates. 10. Related Manufacturing Process. 3-axis NC milling. 3-axis high-speed cutting. 5-axis milling. 11. Decision Making and Economic Aspects. Deciding whether to invest or farm out. Part classification for SFM. Methodology for execution of SFM benchmark tests. Economic aspects and criteria for economic justification. Comparison of traditional and new procedures. Organisational aspects. 12. Further Development Trends. Improvement of commercially available systems. Important further developments. References.