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Prototyping: Matching the Method. Author: Bradley Cleveland. Appliance Design, Oct., 2005. When to use RP or a more traditionally-based method of fabrication such as rapid injection molding (RIM).
Cleaning Up with Rapid Injection Molding. Author: Jerry Nelson. Desktop Engineering, June, 2005. The relationship between RP and RIM is discussed, as well as when it's appropriate to use either technology.
Click. Print. Cast. Author: Foundry M&T staff. Foundry Management & Technology, April, 2005. An introduction to the Z Cast process using three dimensional printing from Z Corp.
Rapid Tooling: It's Faster in Molding, Too. Author: Mikell Knights. Plastics Technology, March 2005. In the last few years, rapid tooling has permitted building molds that provide up to 40% faster cycle times than conventional molds. As a result, RT applications are shiting from prototype to full production tooling.
RCT Takes Layer-By-Layer Approach to Mold, Core Production. Author: anon. Modern Casting, Jan. 2005. An overview of using the ProMetal S15 in casting applications. The technology was acquired from Generis GmbH (Germany).
Lamination Welding. Author: Thomas Himmer et al. Industrial Laser Solutions, Aug., 2004. Profiled laminations are bonded by welding to form inserts for injection molding. The approach uses CNC for finishing and combines the advantages of both additive and subtractive technologies. The authors are with the Fraunhofer Institutes in Germany and they describe the Metal Laminated Tooling (MELATO) process in this article.
Structural Plastics: Exploring Ways to Make Molds & Parts Faster. Author: Mikell Knights. Plastics Technology, June, 2004. New approaches to rapid tooling, rapid prototyping, and gas assist were highlights of the SPI Structural Plastics Conference. The conference also presented a brand-new method of making molds faster and less expensively using an approach that builds up a mold out of thin slices. Steel production molds can be built 10% cheaper and 20% faster with a new laminate process called Fast-Form from Fast4M Tooling Inc. Also noteworthy was a paper on how to select a rapid-prototyping material that gives a useful approximation of the physical properties of the production part.
How to Use Composite SL Molds to Produce Injection Molded Plastic Parts. Authors: Charles Kaufmann, Bill Morgan and Jason Dickman. Time Compression Technologies, May, 2004. Recent advances in stereolithography materials make it a more practical solution to produce quick molds than in the past.
Rapid Molds Produce One to Two Million Parts with a New Rapid Tooling Process. Author: Dave Rizzo. Time Compression Technologies, Nov., 2003. Describes the Compcasting (TM) process from Gusmer Corp. which uses RP-fabricated patterns in a low-pressure, thermally-activated reaction injection molding process. Much lower tooling costs are said to result.
Spray-on tooling machine. American Machinist, April 1, 2003 The Rapid Solidification Process (RSP) developed at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory is described. This spray-forming technology is said to produce forging, die casting, and injection-mold tooling faster than any other process and also to reduce material costs by 80% to 90%. RSP can produce a 40-lb tool in 2 hrs and eliminates operations such as machining, benching, polishing, and engraving.
Fast forward prototyping arrives. Author: Michelle Maniscalco. Injection Molding Magazine, May, 2003. RP isn't the only way to get plastic parts quickly. This article discusses the use of standard CAD and CNC techniques by Protomold which accomplish the same end.
Ultrasonic Consolidation. Author: Dawn White. Appliance Manufacturer, Sept. 2002. The UC process, developed by Solidica, combines features of both machining and rapid tooling to provide the additive and subtractive manufacturing in a single system. Appliance manufacturers may benefit from rapid tooling that permits prototypes to be made that are essentially identical to final production parts.
Rapid evolution: New materials and process improvements are stretching the boundaries of prototyping techniques. Author: John DeGaspari. Mechanical Engineering, March 2002. The article describes how rapid prototyping is moving from the generation of concept models to final production applications. The effect of materials developments on the field is discussed, as well as the limitations of various technologies.
Sample Time Acceleration Technology Explained. Authors: Earl Dunlap and Jack Lawson. Time Compression Technologies, March, 2002. Doesn't give technical details, but discusses the use of the STAT system to produce plastic parts in the final resin that closely mimic production parts. The use of a related tempering technology for RP parts is also discussed.
Palm trees grown with rapid insert technology. Author: Clare Goldsberry. Injection Molding Magazine, Dec., 2001. Case study of the use and limitations of 3D KelTool to fabricate small high-volume tools.
Rapid Tooling Technology From Ford Country. Author: Raymond E. Chalmers. Manufacturing Engineering, Nov. 2001. Ford's Sprayform process allows dies, punches and other tools to be made without machining. The process uses a sprayed metal coating on a form backed up by epoxy. It is now being licensed to other users and service providers.
Rapid Manufacturing. Author: Terry Wohlers. Computer Graphics World, November, 2001. Discusses the major market trend of rapid prototyping evolving into rapid manufacturing. A number of cases are presented.
Injection Molding Metals and Ceramics. Author: Karen Wood. Injection Molding Magazine, April 2001. The Mold in Mold technique from MIM Systems Ltd. (Switzerland) starts with a pattern made by RP or other methods. MIM material is injected around the pattern to eventually form a metal insert that can be used to make hundred to thousands of parts.
Added Options For Producing "Impossible" Shapes Modern Machine Shop, Feb. 2001. The MoldFusion process is offered as a service by a partnership between D-M-E Co. and Extrude Hone Corp. MoldFusion builds shapes by fusing powder tool steel layer by layer in a binder matrix. It's not considered a replacement for conventional tooling, but a solution for applications that are not possible using conventional techniques such as for conformal cooling.
Rapid Tooling Is Ready For Prime Time. Author: Mikell Knights. From Plastics Technology, Jan., 2001. Discusses the maturation and growing success of the technology in a variety of production applications.
Tools to Die For. Author: John DeGaspari. Mechanical Engineering, June, 2000. This article provides a description of the capabilities of the Rapid Solidification tooling process developed by the INEEL and now being commercialized by Global Metal Technologies.
It's Not Just RP Anymore. Author: Robert B. Aronson. From Manufacturing Engineering, May, 2000. Discusses rapid tooling and direct manufacturing applications of RP.
Making It Real. Author: Gary S. Vasilash. From Automotive Manufacturing & Production, on the autofieldguide.com site, Dec. 1999. This article provides a detailed description of POM's Direct Metal Deposition process.
The challenge to production (Moldmaking). From Tooling & Production, Feb., 1998. How advances in one area of technology are influencing those in others.
