![Table 1. LM technologies, acronyms and development years [12].](/figures/table-1-lm-technologies-acronyms-and-development-years-12-2jx7fw4z.webp)
Q2. What have the authors stated for future works in "Rapid manufacturing and rapid tooling with layer manufacturing (lm) technologies, state of the art and future perspectives" ?
The many manufacturing opportunities offered by LM technologies create attractive new possibilities, but are not - by any means - a substitute for established manufacturing processes. One may expect cases in the future where LM parts may surpass the properties yielded by traditional manufacturing as a result of LM ’ s unique possibilities to process composite and powder metallurgical materials. LM may offer unique possibilities to produce light weight or low inertia parts ( e. g. production of porous components by SLS ), functional gradient materials ( e. g. with CBM or LENS ), complex geometries ( all LM processes ), micro parts ( e. g. by micro SLA or SLM ), etc. However, even though the processing speed of several LM processes has already improved by more than a factor of ten [ 58 ], at lot of effort is still required to further boost production rate.
Q3. What is the advantage of the AeroMet process?
Since the AeroMet process takes place in an inert environment, it is possible to produce laser forms in niobium, rhenium and other materials, which require protective processing atmospheres.
Q4. What is the advantage of laser cladding processes?
The greatest advantage of laser cladding processes is their unbeaten ability to produce gradient materials by applying different powder delivery nozzles that allow to gradually switch from one material to another, which is a unique feature that is of great interest to designers.
Q5. What is the role of LM in the development of parts?
LM may offer unique possibilities to produce light weight or low inertia parts (e.g. production of porous components by SLS), functional gradient materials (e.g. with CBM or LENS), complex geometries (all LM processes), micro parts (e.g. by micro SLA or SLM), etc.
Q6. What is the purpose of the intermediate impressions?
The intermediate impressions are produced on an SLA system serving as tooling for thermoforming a set of biocompatible transparent plastic bridges.
Q7. What is the use of a polymer low viscosity acrylic binder?
In the metallic applications, stainless steel powders serve as basic stock material and a polymer low viscosity acrylic binder is used.
Q8. What is the effect of magnesium on sintering?
In the thermal sintering, magnesium, especially at low concentrations, has a disproportionate effect on sintering because it disrupts the passivating Al2O3 layer.
Q9. What is the role of layer joining?
Layer joining is a critical step in the process; it determines the strength in the direction perpendicular to the layers and has great influence on the functionality of the final tool and the economics of the process.
Q10. What is the competitive position of LM for metal components relative to alternative manufacturing processes?
The competitive position of LM for metal components relative to alternative manufacturing processes is a function of the geometrical complexity and required quantity.
Q11. How many steps forward were implemented in recent years?
Immense steps forward were implemented in recent years, as for example the scanning speed of SLS started with 1.5 m/min in 1996 and recently reached 10 m/min with better or equally reliable overall quality.
Q12. What is the way to produce a polymer component?
For the direct production of polymer components, traditional cutting processes, as milling or turning, seldom offers a viable solution due to the complex, thin-walled geometry of most plastic products.
Q13. How much effort is required to boost production rate?
even though the processing speed of several LM processes has already improved by more than a factor of ten [58], at lot of effort is still required to further boost production rate.
Q14. What are the terms that were created or considered?
New terms were created or considered: terms like mass customisation (MC) by Siemens and Phonak [80], Production on Demand (POD) by Boeing, and recently Advanced Digital Manufacturing (AMD) by 3D Systems.
Q15. What is the main reason for the delay in the production of metal parts?
Some SLS manufacturing examples in metal Manufacturing metal parts is still limited to complex medium sized tooling inserts, but there is an evolving need and application [21] [47] [49].
Q16. What is the main reason for the LM process?
One may expect cases in the future where LM parts may surpass the properties yielded by traditional manufacturing as a result of LM’s unique possibilities to process composite and powder metallurgical materials.