Laser-Sintern. Die Schluesseltechnologie des e-Manufacturing TM

Abstract

E-Manufacturing™ stands for the rapid, flexible and economical manufacturing of products, forms, tools or models from electronic data. E-Manufacturing™ includes rapid prototyping, rapid tooling or rapid manufacturing. Nevertheless the technology goes far beyond the thought of fast availability. Rapid Prototyping will play an increasingly important role also in the future, in which e-Manufacturing™ ensures a shortened 'time to market, reduced development costs and a minimized risk. Beyond that new business models will arise as small series production, wider diversity and an individualized production (mass customization) are now not only possible but economical as well. Furthermore new logistics concepts like '(spare) parts on demand' come into being. Laser sintering allows new ways of construction which again makes new product concepts possible. Minimum restrictions by the manufacturing method allow functional integration and the "impossible" manufacturing, since the product design no longer is affected or limited by circular and linear tool motions. The manufacturing concepts likewise are subject to a change and become clearly more flexible. Production without tools, lot size adapted and decentralized 'manufacturing on demand' are the future keywords. The present article shows examples of the successful commercial use of laser sintering in all phases of the product life cycle. The emphasis is on the direct production of functional parts in the serial production. The crucial factors for a successful introduction and the use of e-Manufacturing™ are discussed. The contribution points out, how the latest technological laser sintering innovations, particularly for an increase of productivity, expand the application spectrum, in which this manufacturing method offers economical solutions.