EOS, the worldwide leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems, today announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Phenix Systems at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. The lawsuit alleges infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 5,753,274 and 6,042,774 through the manufacture, sale and use of the PXL, PXM, PXS and PXS Dental product lines from Phenix in the US. During the second half of 2011, Phenix had announced the commercial manufacture, sale and use of exactly these product lines publicly, even though EOS had apprised Phenix of its patent portfolio several times. As a consequence, EOS filed the patent lawsuit against Phenix on March 5, 2012.

The Complaint against Phenix sets forth that Phenix is directly infringing, inducing others to infringe, and contributing to infringement of the 274 and 774 Patents in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271. Phenix had actual notice of the existing EOS patent and despite such notice, has continued to engage in acts of infringement.

Johann Oberhofer, CFO of EOS, comments: “Filing this patent infringement lawsuit is an essential step in protecting our patent rights in the US. We hope that this litigation will quickly resolve the situation.”

EOS has patents granted for a considerable number of its own inventions in the field of laser-sintering. Today, the EOS patent portfolio includes more than 50 patent families worldwide. The company owns exclusive worldwide rights to all patents owned by 3D Systems Corporation applicable to the field of laser sintering which were filed prior to August 20, 2002.

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info

There’s a new Industrial Revolution sweeping through dentistry, and the results speak for themselves at LAB DAY 2012 Chicago. Laser-sintered crowns, bridges, and copings—now produced in the millions—are increasingly replacing those made with traditional casting and machining. EOS, world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering equipment, will display these innovative products and conduct two accredited clinics at the event (held at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers February 24-25).

“Anyone can see that digital tools are proliferating in dentistry and being used in place of physical impressions and casting,” says Martin Bullemer, EOS manager for medical business development. “Our systems take full advantage of the individual patient geometries those digital tools capture and offer consistently high end-quality products and benefits in costs and turn-around times.”

Bill Oremus, vice president of BEGO USA (Lincoln, R.I.), agrees. “The industry’s shift to scanned digital imaging and manufacturing has made laser sintering a must-have technology for us,” he says. “As the technology advances it will be the direction of the future for making dental implant components because it eliminates production steps and cuts material waste.”

Laser sintering is an additive manufacturing process that “grows” near-net shapes, doing away with costly and time-consuming tasks such as waxing, investing, divesting, cutting, and grinding. This makes it economical for creating mass-customized crowns and bridges as well as plastic dental models or titanium dental implants. There are currently more than 40 plastic and metal laser-sintering systems worldwide dedicated to dental devices. Direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) equipment, running unattended, can produce about 450 crown and bridge units in 24 hours, currently some 2.5 million per year.

BEGO USA uses DMLS to create individual cobalt-chrome copings, crowns, pontics and bridges—including 14-unit bridges with a precision that would be difficult to match by traditional methods.

For those who wish to learn more about how this technology benefits the dental industry, this year’s clinics by EOS are titled, “Producing Bridges, Copings, Partials, Implants and Models from CAD Data via Laser Sintering.” Thomas Thiel, an EOS engineer in dental applications and a Master Dental Technologist, will show attendees why DMLS is an efficient alternative to traditional casting processes for copings, bridges, and implants. He will also highlight the use of laser-sintered plastic models for quality checks, analysis, and post-processing restorations. Participants will receive 1.5 Scientific Certified Dental Technician Credits. The clinics will be held in Parlor F (Lobby Level) on Saturday, February 25 from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., and again from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

EOS will also be demonstrating its newest polyamide, PA 2105, for physically modeling dentition. The material offers high precision for best prosthesis fit. Its color contrast facilitates the veneering of dental prostheses, and the models require minimal manual processes or finishing procedures.

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info

FourFourSixSix, a London-based international architecture practice, is delighted to be named key sponsors of the world’s biggest egg hunt. On February 21st, when the UK’s capital becomes home to 200 giant and uniquely crafted Easter eggs, FourFourSixSix sponsors an egg which has been created by them based on an architectural concept and manufactured with an additive manufacturing process called laser-sintering provided by EOS.

The first event of its kind, ‘The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt’ aims to raise vital funds for charities Action for Children and Elephant Family, inviting tourists, locals and visitors to join in a truly magical experience.

Members of the public will be able to hunt down the strategically placed, giant eggs, which have been exclusively designed, bejewelled and decorated by some of the world’s leading artists, architects, jewellers and designers including Mulberry, Sir Ridley Scott, Zandra Rhodes, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Quinn, Bruce Oldfield, The Chapman Brothers, Theo Fennell, William Curley, Bompas and Parr and Polly Morgan.

In addition, participants in the The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt will have the chance of winning the world’s most extraordinary prize. The Fabergé Tribute Egg, a fabulous creation valued at over £100,000, will be exclusively revealed on the first day of the hunt, Tuesday 21 February.

The event is set to smash Guinness World Records for the most participants in an Easter egg hunt and the world’s most expensive chocolate egg, as designed by William Curley.

The handcrafted eggs, which are destined to become highly collectible works of art, will be available to buy at auction, with proceeds going to Action for Children and Elephant Family. The jewel in the crown of the auction will be an exclusively designed, stunning 127ct emerald and gold egg pendant ‘Le Collier Plume d’Or’ by Fabergé.

‘The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt’ seeks to raise up to £2 million for leading children’s charity, Action for Children, and Elephant Family – the UK’s biggest funder for the endangered Asian elephant.

Daniel Welham, of FourFourSixSix and Stuart Jackson, Regional Manager for the UK and Ireland at EOS agree: “We are absolutely delighted to announce our support for this fantastic event. Not only will it be a magical day out for thousands of children and families this Easter, but it will be raising money for two incredible charities, Action for Children and Elephant family.“

Action for Children’s Chief Executive, Dame Clare Tickell, said: “The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt is a ground-breaking and exciting way to get London and all its visitors involved in raising awareness and crucial funds for the most vulnerable and neglected children, young people and families across the UK. It is an enchanting event, which will capture the hearts, imagination and interest of everyone taking part.

“We act as a lifeline to some of the UK’s most vulnerable children, young people and families and the £1 million we stand to benefit from this event will make a huge difference to the people out there that need our help the most. It’s particularly heartening to know that the money will have been raised thanks to an event which will be hugely enjoyable for the thousands of children and families who will be taking part.”

Elephant Family Director, Ruth Powys, said: “From the charity that brought you Elephant Parade, we give you, in partnership with Action for Children, The Fabergé Big Egg Hunt. It’s about time to have some fun again. Forget about your worries – we’re going to put a smile on your faces and brighten up our great capital city. Like everybody, charities are up against it and you need to think out of the box, so welcome to another fun and vital initiative to protect our children and the endangered animals that share their world”.

Sarah Fabergé, great granddaughter Peter Carl Fabergé said: "Eggs have become synonymous with Fabergé and it is almost impossible to think of one without the other! The egg is symbolic to so many nations and cultures representing new life and rebirth. We at Fabergé have recently undergone a rebirth ourselves opening our first boutique in London after an absence of more than 90 years! How could we not become involved in a big egg hunt taking place right on our doorstep in support of these two wonderful charities, Action for Children and Elephant Family whose tireless work involves nurturing young people and the animals that share our planet?”

For more information, visit: www.thebigegghunt.co.uk

EOS, world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems announced today that Spain-based Fundación Prodintec joined their e-Manufacturing partner initiative as of January 1, 2012. Complementing the existing network of partners both companies join forces to further increase the acceptance of the laser-sintering as a manufacturing process that offers solutions beyond prototyping, thus extending the reach to serial applications too.

Together with EOS, Prodintec offers an e-Manufacturing process from Product Design to Advanced Manufacturing Processes. Owning a number of EOS systems already – one FORMIGA, one EOSINT P 395 and two EOSINT M 280 (200 and 400 Watt) Prodintec has a substantial knowledge of the laser-sintering technology and as such can circle back to EOS valuable lessons learned which  consequently can ensure a continuous further improvement of the e-Manufacturing process. Prodintec, in return, sees EOS as their preferred supplier for laser-sintering systems and processes. Dr. Adrian Keppler, Executive Vice President Strategy und Business Development adds: “EOS and Prodintec believe that laser-sintering is currently challenging the principles of conventional design and manufacturing processes for a large variety of industry-specific applications. This partner network is a proof point for the innovative and game changing power of the technology and will help all parties involved to tap the full potential of e-Manufacturing.”

Iñigo Felgueroso, Managing Director of Prodintec adds: “We are not just sharing a vision with EOS but have build up successful business models around the technology, gained practical experiences from this and consequently can perfectly consult customers on how to reach maximum benefit from e-Manufacturing with laser-sintering. With a regional focus, though acting international, Prodintec aims to become a reference for the EOS technology when it comes to R&D in product development and manufacturing processes. Moreover, we are successful as a company when this technology helps particularly companies in Spain, Portugal and other countries to grow their businesses.”

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes.

Founded in 2004, PRODINTEC is a non-profit technology centre based in the North of Spain. Main activities include R&D and innovation projects related to Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, Product Design and Product Engineering. PRODINTEC is specialised on supporting companies in the whole value chain for Additive Manufacturing, providing complete innovative solutions from 3D-scanning, to series production including the use of advanced software for Additive Manufacturing, quality control and post-processing. Those capabilities have made of PRODINTEC the leader in Spain in R&D projects and innovation services in Additive Manufacturing, performing more than 2.000 innovation services and 30 R&D projects in Additive Manufacturing in several sectors and applications, such as electronic equipment enclosures, medical implants, aerospace, automotive parts and conformal cooling moulds and micro-moulds.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info or www.prodintec.com

Paramount Industries, Inc., a world-class rapid product development, rapid manufacturing and rapid deployment company, today announced the acquisition of an EOSINT P 800, a new high temperature laser sintering technology capable of processing engineered polymers like polyaryl ether ketone (PAEK) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK).

“High temperature laser sintering is a 3D printing process that is growing in popularity for making strong plastic production parts,” said Paramount CEO Jim Williams. “As early adopters, our goal is to integrate this technology across all industries so manufacturers can benefit from the unique advantages additive manufacturing technologies can offer. While it is true that aerospace, defense, energy, medical and transportation are natural consumers, there are many more industries that will benefit from this processing and material technology.”

An increasing number of government agencies and manufacturers are sourcing laser sintering for direct part production. In contrast to traditional manufacturing methods, laser sintering can deliver plastic parts with highly complex geometries with impressive strength-to-weight ratios. In many cases, hundreds of parts can be directly manufactured from 3D CAD digital models long before tooling is available and in certain applications eliminating tooling costs altogether. As original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue to make system enhancements and service providers develop new processing techniques for biocompatible and high temp laser sintering materials, Paramount anticipates that demand will continue to rise.

The EOSINT P 800 can process temperatures up to 385°C (725°F) which enables the laser sintering process of engineered polymers like PAEK. “The P 800’s elevated processing temperatures and range of high performance engineered polymers are critical components necessary for the growth of this industry and complementary to our ongoing laser sintering R&D effort and direct part manufacturing operations,” said Williams.

Laser sintering offers the highest levels of manufacturing flexibility for end-use parts. PAEKs offer the highest levels of performance among polymers. Since 2008 Paramount Industries has led the development of the high temperature laser sintering process. The company qualified the process through an extensive U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) R&D effort integrating laser sintering technology and materials science into a robust manufacturing solution package to deliver complex parts for military weapon systems. Paramount is successfully moving into SBIR Phase III, transitioning this high temperature laser sintering process to production with these new PAEKs and carbon-fiber-reinforced PAEKs.

The laser sintering PAEKs offer temperature resistance, processing stability, mechanical performance, resistance to hydrolysis, and flame retardant characteristics that make them ideal candidates for aerospace applications. The carbon-fiber-reinforced PAEKs offer additional electrostatic dissipative characteristics and higher tensile modulus. These new materials combined with Paramount’s advanced coatings and surface finishes broaden the material selection and design options and increases the range of applications.

For over 45 years Paramount has demonstrated a strong commitment to the early adoption of new manufacturing technologies and since the late ‘80s was a thought leader in the democratization of rapid technologies. In the mid ’90s, Paramount was an early adopter of laser sintering metals for the manufacture of injection molds and metal sintered parts. These early efforts were foundational in helping to elevate awareness and integration of advanced additive manufacturing technologies.

“Much of the excitement in what we do every day as a product development and manufacturing company is to create innovative ways to integrate advanced technologies that enable our customers’ rapid product deployment regardless of the industry. Paramount continues to advance the development of laser sintering materials and processing. My team is absolutely thrilled to add the EOSINT P 800 to Paramount’s additive manufacturing tool box,” Williams added.

Founded in 1966, Paramount Industries, Inc. is among the world's most experienced providers of product development services, including design engineering, additive manufacturing, rapid prototyping, direct digital manufacturing, rapid manufacturing, rapid tooling, urethane casting, injection molding and contract manufacturing. Paramount is AS9100C and ISO 9001:2008 certified and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) registered. The company holds active memberships with the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG), Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Keystone Chapter AUVSI (founding member), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and ASTM International.

For more information, visit: www.paramountind.com

For proof positive that laser-sintering is changing the face of medical design and manufacturing, attendees of this year’s American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) meeting can stop by the EOS booth. The world leader in laser-sintering systems is showcasing a working EOSINT M 280 direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) system to demonstrate the extraordinary benefits the technology offers for orthopedic applications. The evidence includes a wide range of innovative medical products and prototypes used for instrumentation as well as spinal, joint, and cranial surgeries. The show is being held February 8-10 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco (California).

“An entire new world of orthopedic treatment and procedures has opened up,” says Martin Bullemer, EOS manager for medical business development. “Because our laser-sintering systems can cost-effectively manufacture any imaginable geometry, and any variation on it, they are changing the way we think about medical products.”

Laser sintering is an additive manufacturing process involving next-to-no tooling, molding or machining costs. As a result, devices can be economically mass-customized to conform to the requirements of individual doctors or patients. Orthopedic suppliers use DMLS and plastics laser sintering to create a diverse array of drill guides, clamps, implants, and surgical instruments.

EOS-related activities at the AAOS meeting include:

• EOS customers C&A Tool (booth 4017), Morris Technologies (booth 359), and Oxford Performance Materials (booth 2821) are exhibiting laser-sintered products and prototypes. C&A and Morris both focus on DMLS, while Oxford Performance Materials uses the EOSINT P 800 with high-performance polymers to manufacture customized medical implants.

• Highlights from WITHIN Technologies Ltd include their FEA/CAD optimization software that works with EOS’ plastic and metal laser-sintering systems to create strong, lightweight parts including innovative lattice structures.

• FHC is exhibiting its new line of patient-customized stereotactic fixtures for cranial targeting. The new fixtures are more accurate and comfortable for the patient than standard stereotactic frames and are suitable for a broad range of head types, and for targets not easily reached with a traditional frame. They also reduce operating room times for the procedure by as much as two hours.

“Many surgeons and medical designers are only just now becoming aware of the breadth of applications made possible by this manufacturing technology,” says Fred Haer, CEO of FHC. “The laser-sintered products on display at this meeting are at the forefront of a revolution in personalized patient care.”

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info or www.aaos.org/education/anmeet/anmeet.asp

German industrial control and automation company, Festo, a world leading supplier of pneumatically- and electrically-actuated automation systems, is using additive manufacturing (AM) to produce a bionic gripper that can pick up and put down objects flexibly, reliably, gently and safely. Fast and economical batch production of the complex components at the company's Esslingen factory is achieved using a FORMIGA P 100 plastic laser-sintering machine from EOS.

The advantages over conventional manufacturing practices are many. Due to the design freedom afforded by layer-by-layer AM, the number of individual parts has been reduced, making assembly less costly. As injection mould tools are not needed, further time and cost savings result. The weight of the gripper is lower, as it can be made from polyamide instead of metal, which is an advantage in some applications.

The so-called Bionic Handling Assistant was awarded the 2010 Deutscher Zukunftspreis, a technology and innovation award endowed annually by the German Federal President. Unlike conventional industrial robots, the pneumatically controlled unit has the particular benefit that direct contact with people is not hazardous, as in the event of a collision the system yields immediately. The design allows for smooth movement, with 11 degrees of freedom and an unparalleled weight / payload ratio.

Festo has been gathering experience with AM since 1995. What began with concept models and functional prototypes has developed into the manufacture of several thousands of parts per year.

Products derived from nature are often of complex design. The flexible bionic handling assistance system is based on an elephant's trunk and consists of three elements for spatial movement. At the end is a 'hand', called a DHDG adaptive gripper, modelled on a fish fin.

Klaus Müller-Lohmeier, head of advanced prototyping technology at Festo AG, said, "The gripper's functionality and structure, incorporating components of complex geometry, makes it impossible to produce the product by any means other than AM.

"Just four components produced in a FORMIGA P100 are sufficient to make a complete Bionic Handling Assistant.

"Thanks to the design freedom that laser-sintering gives us, we can manufacture movable, flexible but also specifically rigid shapes, just as they occur in nature.

"Our designers can operate independently of the restrictions of conventional manufacturing techniques and concentrate fully on the implementation of the natural principles they have analysed.

"We are using laser-sintering more and more for projects in which limited annual quantities of a complex part are required. In these cases, the process is a real alternative to existing, often tool-based methods."

The fish fin-inspired DHDG adaptive gripper is now integrated into Festo's product range and is already used by customers all over the world. Its structure may be adapted for a user's specific application. The gripper fingers adjust precisely to the contour of a workpiece and even sensitive objects or those of complex shape can be gripped and moved safely.

Noteworthy is that the gripper elements have their final functionality immediately after laser-sintering, without the need for expensive assembly. Accordingly, laser-sintering is a manufacturing precondition. Festo says that there is no practical alternative.

Moreover, the DHDG adaptive gripper is 80 per cent lighter than conventional grippers made of metal. The fact that plastic is able to replace metal is due to the ability of the laser-sintering process to produce lightweight, elastic yet very strong structures. Studies have shown that the gripper elements can withstand more than five million bending cycles.

Müller-Lohmeier concluded by mentioning that tool-less production with AM is especially cost-efficient. In an unrelated customer project, Festo manufactured 12,000 components by laser-sintering as an alternative technology, saving 40 per cent of the unit cost compared with injection moulding.

All parts were finished within one week in just four build cycles, whereas conventional production would have taken two months. The company was therefore able to launch the product much faster.

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world's leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser-sintering accelerates product development and optimises production processes. EOS completed its business year 2009/2010 with revenues of 64 million Euros. The company employs 300 people worldwide, 250 of them in Krailling near Munich, Germany.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info or www.festo.com

At this year’s EuroMold World Fair for Moldmaking and Tooling, EOS highlighted integrated e-Manufacturing solutions that meet the need for quality assurance in series manufacture of customised products.

The company announced that its Integrated Process Chain Management for plastic applications is being developed further to optimise powder handling. The new IPCM will be scalable to fit into production environments where management of powder quality, traceability and storage is essential. EOS is working closely with selected customers and their input is being integrated in the further development of this concept.

The latest direct metal laser sintering system was exhibited, EOSINT M 280, of which over 30 systems have been sold globally since it was introduced at EuroMold 2010. EOSINT P 760 for plastic applications also featured on the stand.

Emphasis was placed on Laser Power Monitoring, which records the laser power during the build process to ensure that the specified level is maintained. Results are reported via the EOSTATE 1.2 quality assurance module.

New plastic powder

Designed to make plastic laser-sintering more economical and sustainable, PrimePart PLUS is a new, translucent polyamide suitable for fully functional parts with excellent mechanical properties.

Owing to the optimised refresh rate, whereby only about 30 per cent virgin powder has to be added to used material, instead of 50 per cent for conventional polyamide polymers, material consumption is significantly reduced. It leads to lower cost per part, less material wastage and a more efficient production process.

AM meets art

Additive manufacturing is not only showing huge potential for short run production of complex components, but is also opening up new creative avenues. For example, on show at EuroMold was work by artist and product designer, Lionel T Dean, including a 3D printed titanium gearshift.

“Direct digital manufacturing offers much more than complex structures to creative industries: it is a revolution that will allow us to invent new relationships with customers,” stated Dean, whose work can be seen in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

"In contrast to mass production, direct production decreases the need for investment and allows designers to respond to niche markets and individual requirements."

Successful 2010/11 financial year for EOS

Over 1,000 EOS laser-sintering systems have now been sold worldwide, a landmark reached in 2011. At the end of September, the company completed a successful year's trading which showed higher growth rates than expected. Sales revenue increased by around 40 per cent compared with the last financial year, taking turnover to more than 90 million Euros.

The number of staff is increasing too, with currently more than 350 employees globally. To support this growth and with a focus on further investment in R&D, the company plans to build a 12,000 m2 building next to its headquarters in Krailling, near Munich, with construction starting in Spring 2012.

Dr Hans J. Langer, founder and CEO of EOS, said: “Twenty-two years after EOS was founded, we see the technology challenging the limits of traditional manufacturing. Many prototyping companies already use laser-sintering for design and manufacture, while more and more OEMs are adopting the technology for high-end manufacturing.

"Last year saw a number of organisational changes which will support further progress. As a result, a broader management team has been established which can now better support the key divisions of the company.

"Sustainability will remain one of the core strategic pillars for the coming years and will strongly influence EOS' plans, for example how we can further optimise the powder consumption in our laser-sintering systems.

"We already see enormous benefits of our technology, which enables cycle time reductions, reduced material consumption, the possibility to reuse materials, and weight reduction through change of material and the integration of lattice structures.”

For more information, visit: www.eos.info

At the end of September 2011, EOS completed a very successful fiscal year which showed much higher growth rates than expected after a short phase of economic downturn in 2010. Terry Wohlers, industry consultant and analyst, just recently summarized the potential he sees for the market of additive manufacturing technologies, such as laser-sintering: “The additive Manufacturing (AM) industry continuous to have tremendous untapped potential. A product development company may spend five-to-ten percent on design and prototyping for a given program. The remaining 90-95 percent is spent on production, which is why so many companies are aggressively pursuing this segment of the market.”

EOS also recently surpassed 1,000 laser-sintering systems sold worldwide and completed the fiscal year with a revenue increase of around 40 percent, with more than 90 million Euros. The number of staff is increasing too, with currently more than 350 employees globally. In order to support this growth, and with a focus on further investments into R&D, EOS plans to build a 12,000 qm building next to their current headquarters, with construction starting in spring of 2012.

Dr. Hans J. Langer, founder and CEO of EOS, adds: “22 years after EOS was founded we see a technology challenging the limits of traditional manufacturing. A lot of prototyping companies already have adopted the laser-sintering way to design and manufacture. Meanwhile, more and more OEM’s are adopting the technology for their high-end manufacturing needs too. Together with lighthouse customers, we’ll further develop this segment.” He adds: “Where markets change and new target groups develop, EOS has to prepare for the new challenges and market opportunities ahead. As a consequence, the last fiscal year saw a number of organizational changes which will be supporting further progress.”

As a result, a broader management team has been established which can now better support the key divisions of the company, For example, Quality Management has taken a central role at EOS with a focus on prevention and continuous system and process improvement as well as monitoring and control to enable adequate product and process quality-one of the key prerequisites to meet the particular requirements of EOS’ new industrial customers. In addition, EOS’ service and application consultancy offerings are continuously strengthened by increasing local service and support teams. As a result, customer-specific applications can be optimized upfront, offering a competitive advantage to the customer. Overall, EOS supports its customers in maximizing the benefits arising from the use of the laser-sintering technology.

In addition, EOS further invested into laser-sintering process specialist Advanced Laser Materials LLC (ALM), developer and provider of polyamide materials and processes for additive manufacturing. And, as of January 2012, EOS will enter into a joint venture for the German market together with partner BESTinCLASS called “First Surface Oberflächentechnik GmbH” (see separate press release) to extend the offering of post processing services for this region.

“Apart from all of these changes and further developments in and around EOS, sustainability will remain one of the core strategic pillars for the coming years”, adds Langer. “This will strongly contribute to how EOS plans and sets up the new company building, how we further optimize power consumption of our laser-sintering systems. And how – already today – we see enormous benefits of our technology for our customers by enabling cycle time reduction, reduced material consumption or the possibility to re-use materials, weight reduction through change of material (from metal to plastics), and integration of lattice structures, to name but a few.”

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser-sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes. EOS completed its business year 2010/2011 with revenues of more than 90 million Euros (more than 120 million US$).

For more information, visit: www.eos.info

EOS, the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems announced today five new members to join their e-Manufacturing partner initiative. Complementing the existing network of e-Manufacturing partners the following companies will join: Germany-based LaserbearbeitungsCenter (LBC) GmbH and kuhn-stoff GmbH & Co KG, UK-based Digital Forming and Within and Swiss-based BESTinCLASS. EOS and e Manufacturing partners join forces to further increase the acceptance of the laser-sintering as a manufacturing process that offers solutions beyond prototyping, thus extending the reach to serial applications too. What all partners have in common is that they are pioneers as well as experts in their respective laser-sintering related field.

Together with EOS, they offer an end-to-end e-Manufacturing process from design to post-processing. Own experiences in the field of laser-sintering on the partner side provide valuable lessons learned for EOS who consequently can ensure a continuous further improvement of the e-Manufacturing process to meet particular customer requirements. Partners, in return, see EOS as their preferred supplier for laser-sintering systems and processes. Dr. Adrian Keppler, Executive Vice President Strategy und Business Development adds: “EOS and its partners jointly believe that laser-sintering is currently challenging the principles of conventional design and manufacturing processes for a large variety of industry-specific applications. Besides others, the EOS partner network is a proof point for the innovative and game changing power of the technology and will help all parties involved to tap the full potential of e-Manufacturing. All new e-Manufacturing partners introduced here are not just sharing a vision but have build up successful business models around the technology, gained practical experiences from this and consequently can perfectly consult customers on how to reach maximum benefit from e-manufacturing with laser-sintering.”

New e-Manufacturing partner LaserbearbeitungsCenter (LBC)

Germany-based LBC has three EOS laser-sintering systems at their facility and as such has sufficient production capacity installed for executing manufacturing projects, particularly for the tooling industry. The company has a very deep knowledge when it comes to adequate conformal cooling design and the manufacturing of mold inserts as well as in production simulation for the laser-sintering process. Ralph Mayer, managing partner of LBC and one of the pioneering users of the laser-sintering technology for the tooling industry in Germany concludes: “Direct Metal Laser-Sintering (DMLS) as provided by EOS is ideally suited to meet the challenges in tooling. We just recently bought the new metal system EOSINT M 280 which not only extended our capacities but also machining efficiency.”

New e-Manufacturing partner kuhn-stoff

Germany-based kuhn-stoff, e-Manufacturing service provider with a particular focus on special purpose machinery has a broad know-how when it comes to design particularly suited for laser-sintering. For their clients, the company answers the key questions ‘How do I translate the potentials of laser-sintering into my product and which rules of the game do I need to consider.’ Hannes Kuhn, general manager of kuhn-stoff adds: ”With laser-sintering, 3D data can be translated directly into parts. As such, conventional manufacturing processes can be supplemented, if not even substituted in some cases. Considering the fact that in special purpose machinery around twenty percent of a machine consists of interface components that are normally very time and cost intensive to design and to manufacture and cannot be covered with standard components, laser-sintered parts – in return – can have a huge impact.”

New e-Manufacturing partner Digital Forming

UK-based Digital Forming has developed a co-design platform comprised of software and supply chain which allows two or more parties to collaborate on the design of a product, where one party is the ‘lead designer’ setting parameters in 3D space for the others. In this way, the platform can be used for the co-creation of new products as well as offering the next generation of customization tools for design orientated companies. The platform is driven by intelligent software that will not allow the co-designer to take the product design to a point where it is no longer buildable, has structural integrity or is fit for function. Lisa Harouni, CEO of Digital Forming says the platform ’democratises’ design for non-CAD users, opening up possibilities and accessibility to Additive Manufacturing technologies. She adds: “Once a bespoke product has been created, the platform will manage the consequential supply chain. Our platform in conjunction with part manufacturing via laser-sintering makes it a rapid, affordable, competitive, flexible design-driven and environmentally friendly process.”

New e-Manufacturing partner Within

Within, a London-based software house and licensing company adds extra know-how to the complete laser-sintering process chain with their software solutions. With years of experience in design for the laser-sintering process, Within has developed a suite of software tools that enable their clients to optimise the design of their components to the laser-sintering process. This can enable them to create lighter weight products which are fully self-supporting but which also meet the functional requirements of the component once in use. Siavash Mahdavi, CEO of Within states: “Laser-sintering can be a game changer to many industries but fully exploiting this revolutionary manufacturing technique requires new software solutions that have not existed to date. By combining artificial intelligence, design rules and computer simulation, we have created software tools that make it easy for you to design buildable and functional complex components for a wide range of industries from Medical to Aerospace, Automotive and Tooling.”

New e-Manufacturing partner BESTinCLASS (BinC)

BESTinCLASS, Swiss-based high precision surface finishing provider offers a post-processing called Micro Machining Process (MMP). Parts manufactured with the laser-sintering technology can be selectively post-treated up to a mirror-like polish. Only those areas are treated where a particular finishing is required, without altering shapes, even complex ones and as such is particularly efficient on DMLS parts. Laurent Cataldo, Chief Executive Officer at BinC adds: “Apart from the watch making and luxury goods industry, MMP can be applied to a lot of industries including aerospace, medical, mould making and auto-sport, all of which enjoy performance gains as a result of the unique accuracy and control provided by MMP. Costs and turnaround times are predictable and controlled; Finishes can be reproduced to industrial standards for multiple parts; Treated parts are free from contamination; part geometries and mechanical properties of the treated surfaces are not altered, cavities can be accessed. Hardening is minimized and the process is approved for parts used in medical applications.”

About LaserBearbeitungsCenter (LBC)

Based in Kornwestheim, LBC makes modern laser technologies available to its customers. Particularly in the field of mold making LBC has a broad know-how covering the entire range of the process chain: from manufacturing molding blanks as well as molds with an optimized conformal cooling to the design of customer-specific cooling solutions, to the simulation of thermally optimised injection molding tools as well as consulting and engineering solutions. For LBC, a key to success is that they work with customers on a partner level. For more information, visit: www.lasergenerieren.de/en/index.php

About kuhn-stoff

Founded in 2005, kuhn-stoff Gmbh & Co KG is a young company which is exclusively focusing on the design and manufacturing of laser-sintered parts made of polyamide. With this, kuhn-stoff is particularly supporting customers in the special purpose machinery manufacturing industry. kuhn-stoff is inspired by the EOS e-Manufacturing concept and fully supports it. He is the leading service provider when it comes to the implementation of laser-sintered parts as end products. For more information, visit: www.kuhn-stoff.de

About Digital Forming

Digital Forming Ltd. was established in November 2008 by 4 partners from science, creative and business backgrounds; Assa Ashuach, Dr Siavash Mahdavi, Nicolas de Cordes and Lisa Harouni. Digital Forming is a 3D software house that proposes to revolutionize product customization and co-design. The company has developed an extensive platform to link designers, brands, and their customers to Additive Manufacturing technology. Digital Forming offers its software and platform through a SaaS licensing model and undertakes consultancy for companies who are looking for a competitive edge through Additive Manufacturing technologies. For more information, visit: www.digitalforming.com

About Within

Within is a licensing company and software house, based in London that has created tools which constantly push at the boundaries of the possi­bilities in additive manufacturing. Within can improve the performance of products and reduce their weight through a variety of software tools. This is primarily achieved by the use of customised lattice structures. Our technology is inspired by nature and has resulted in the creation of advanced forms of Bio-inspired Artificial Intelligence. These tools understand both the functionality of the product as well as the design rules associated with additive manufacturing. Within’s current suite of technologies can make products exhibit properties that were previously unachievable. For more information, visit: www.withinlab.com

About BESTinCLASS

Founded in Switzerland in 1995, BESTinCLASS SA has developed the micro-machining process (MMP), a proprietary precision surface finishing technique. MMP can finely distinguish and selectively apply different primary roughness, secondary roughness and waviness profiles to surfaces. Working from its own treatment labs, BESTinCLASS is poised to provide manufacturers with custom finishes to meet their specifications. An exceptional feature of MMP is its ability to provide selective surface finishes that can be reproduced to industrial standards. The company and the Joint venture using the MMP Technology employs 75 people worldwide, including 35 people in the headquarter in Genolier Switzerland. For more information, visit: www.binc.biz/gb/index.php

About EOS

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost-effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser-sintering accelerates product development and optimizes production processes. EOS completed its business year 2010/2011 with revenues of more than 90 million Euros (125 million US$). For more information, visit: www.eos.info

A novel, active suspension system helped Coventry University’s Phoenix Racing team to win the Shell-sponsored award for most fuel-efficient car in the premier class of this year's Formula Student championship. Key components of the system, which were both compact and lightweight, were produced layer-by-layer from titanium alloy powder (Ti64) in EOS laser-sintering machines.

At Silverstone in July 2011, against fierce competition from over 100 universities around the world, the single-seater racing car was placed 20th overall. It was 5th in the endurance challenge, involving a separate, 22 km race during which the cars prove their speed and durability and the students execute a pit-stop and driver change.

Comprising third-year motorsport engineering students at Coventry University, Phoenix Racing, under team leader, Dan Priestman, this year produced its most advanced and successful car in over 10 years of racing in the Formula Student competition. The students took full advantage of the university’s motorsport workshop, in particular the direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) machines which were made available through sponsorship by laser-sintering equipment manufacturer, EOS.

The equipment allowed the students to manufacture intricate titanium parts for an electronically-controlled, hydraulic anti-roll system to ensure that the car maintained grip in the corners, a clever design feature that was acknowledged by the judges. All were industry professionals that had not previously come across such a system at the competition.

Causing a stir

Considerable interest was also shown in the active front suspension by a number of firms in the motorsport and automotive sectors, including Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix, Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines and Jaguar Land Rover.

Other Formula Student competitors were similarly curious, so much so that the team had to keep the system covered while the race car was being worked on to allow enough space around the vehicle.

Towards the end of the event, rumours had travelled up and down the pit lane suggesting that a top international team had spent the previous two nights trying to reverse-engineer the system, which was comically nicknamed the Doomsday Device at the championship.

Development of the hydraulic anti-roll system

The Phoenix race car was designed by the students under the guidance of Charles Kingdom, Senior Lecturer Materials and Engineering Design at Coventry University. Early on in the project, it became clear that the position of the front roll centre was below ground level, which increased the lateral transfer load, created a large body roll angle and produced a pronounced understeer.

This implied that a front anti-roll bar might be required.  However, a traditional bar could not be used, first because technical regulations meant that the feature would be outside the allowed chassis envelope, and secondly because it would have been difficult to fix the suspension pick-up due to the location of the front rockers. A further drawback with a passive anti-roll bar is that it transmits a single wheel bump around the whole chassis.

Phoenix Racing's new, active anti-roll system, which was the brainchild of student team member, Tom Edwardes, consists of two double-acting hydraulic cylinders connected top to bottom from left to right.  The actuators are fixed at one end to the front suspension rockers and at the other end to the vehicle chassis.  As one actuator compresses, the opposite actuator also compresses. In this simplistic form, the system mimics an infinitely stiff roll bar, so a method of varying the difference between the two actuators was required to allow roll resistance to be adjustable.

Two valve blocks were therefore added in-line, each consisting of a piston and a spring.  As the right-hand cylinder compresses during cornering, the fluid is displaced into the right-hand valve block. The piston compresses the spring, resulting in less fluid moving into the left hand cylinder.  This results in a difference in displacement between the two actuators.  The left hand valve block moves downwards to equalise the difference in fluid that is displaced.

Additive manufacture creates compact components

The actuator casing was manufactured from Ti64 powder using the DMLS process from EOS.  The additive procedure allows complex structures to be manufactured, directly from a CAD model, that would often be difficult or impossible to machine conventionally, such as the spiral oil feed pipe around the cylinder body. DMLS also frequently results in the component being smaller and lighter than it would otherwise be using traditional manufacturing techniques, in this case reducing the weight of the race car and making the components easier to install.

EOS produced the actuator casing and the rod end in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton, while the internals were manufactured at Coventry University. Machining of the titanium parts was carried out at James Camden Engineering, Warwick, and at the University of Wolverhampton, where Dr Mark Stanford worked for many hours to make some of the finished items.  The cylinder bores were honed at Crosshatch Services, Coventry, and the hydraulic fittings were supplied by Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Slough.  Overall length of the unit is 170 mm, with a bore of 25 mm and a 22 mm stroke. Weight is just 300 grams.

The valve blocks were also manufactured from Ti64 using DMLS.  It allowed the overall length of the units to be reduced by locating two hydraulic fittings alongside each valve body rather than at one end, both fittings being fed via two flow pipes running from the bottom of the block.  The component also features a mounting face and feet to locate the valve block to the chassis tubes.

Within the block are a piston, spring holder, spring and compressor.  The latter can be used to preload the spring within the holder using a one-millimetre pitch thread machined into the top half of the titanium casing. This allows the roll resistance of the vehicle to be adjusted either by the preload or by changing the spring.  The unit has a bore of 30 mm, an overall length of 120 mm and a mass of 450 grams.

Features and benefits of the hydraulic active system compared with a traditional anti-roll bar may be summarised as follows:

•    The active suspension is easily packaged within the chassis.
•    Roll stiffness can be quickly and simply adjusted, even by the driver.
•    The roll mechanism is damped.
•    Weight is comparable to that of a standard anti-roll system.
•    The energy of a single wheel bump is absorbed.
•    It is possible to develop the technique further into a full vehicle system to incorporate pitch and dive resistance.

EOS was founded in 1989 and is today the world's leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems. Laser-sintering is the key technology for e-Manufacturing, the fast, flexible and cost effective production of products, patterns and tools. The technology manufactures parts for every phase of the product life cycle, directly from electronic data. Laser-sintering accelerates product development and optimises production processes. EOS completed its business year 2010/2011 with revenues of more than 90 million Euros (124.3 million US$). The company employs 300 people worldwide, 250 of them in Krailling near Munich, Germany.

For more information, visit: www.eos.info

Mass customization was dreamed about more than two decades ago as an attainable business strategy to reach individuals with products tailored perfectly to them. But technology constraints and the economics of standardized parts and modularized product lines won the day—resulting in copycat car body “platforms” that reached across brands, and PC boxes of mind-numbing uniformity.

Yet today, on an otherwise typical shop floor in Cincinnati, OH, a new generation of machines sits alongside traditional equipment and turns out unique, one-off products with astounding shapes and game-changing cost savings.

Morris Technologies Inc. (MTI) and its sister company Rapid Quality Manufacturing (RQM) operate 20 direct metal laser-sintering (DMLS) systems—the most of any organization in the world—from German producer EOS, and are at the forefront of OEMs and service bureaus in defining just what can be made by “growing” custom parts.

MTI was one of the first shops in the U.S. to collaborate closely with major aerospace and medical producers to explore laser-sintering. Now on its way to certifying laser-sintered metals in both fields, the company is making everything from lightweight components for military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to cobalt-chrome hip replacement prototypes for patients of the future.

Others are creating exotic lattice-like systems in plastics for lighting homes and offices, designer shoes with heels of braided titanium and, soon, cranial implants, knees and medical instruments designed around the exact geometry of the individual human body and the surgeon’s hands. The wide-open design freedom of laser-sintering systems, for making single parts and meeting low-volume production needs, creates the potential for serving not just doctors and engineers, but also start-up entrepreneurs who want to make clothing, games and consumer goods but don’t own factories or have the resources for risky, high-volume product trials in untapped markets.

“EOS technology has transformed a significant part of our business already,” says Greg Morris, CEO of MTI. “Laser-sintering is opening up whole new categories of opportunities for MTI and RQM, and we’ve expanded our DMLS capacity to more readily meet customers’ needs for rapid turnaround,” he notes.

“Customers are excited and are teaming up with us aggressively to quickly understand the potential of EOS laser-sintering and to test and advance their application concepts,” says Morris. “It’s a race to introduce innovative, bold ideas ahead of others. In ten years, people will look back at today and see the immense impact additive manufacturing has had on industry.”

Laser-sintering is an additive process that melts materials layer-by-layer at high temperatures, until the final—often complex—shape is achieved. Traditional machining, mold/cast or sheet forming technologies either cut away or pour and inject materials, and have well-defined limits that carry over to the geometries and performance characteristics of the products.

By contrast, EOS systems enable the designing-in of higher performance attributes previously unaffordable or even impossible to construct. A mold with cooling channels that snake around the bends and curves of a part is one practical example. What’s more, all this can be done in a “lights out,” automated operation. It’s these new shapes and manufacturing economics, coupled with a devotion to quality and validation, that are behind the company’s steady move to market leadership and an installed base exceeding 1,000 high-end systems worldwide.

“The economic impact of additive manufacturing (AM) is significant, especially considering the opportunities in custom and short-run production," says Terry Wohlers, industry consultant and analyst. "If one could calculate the monetary impact from the thousands of companies that benefit from AM, it would be in the billions of dollars annually.

"The AM industry has grown in the double digits for 14 of its 23 years," notes Wohlers. "It continues to have tremendous untapped potential. A product development company may spend five-to-ten percent on design and prototyping for a given program. The remaining 90-95 percent is spent on production, which is why so many companies are aggressively pursuing this segment of the market."

To learn more about EOS laser-sintering, visit: www.eos.info/en/home.html or www.youtube.com/eosgmbh

Minister of State for Universities and Science, David Willetts MP, visited the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus on Monday 26 September 2011, at which he was briefed on the university’s £275 million campus developments and was given an overview of its world-class research and innovative collaborations with business and industry.

The Minister toured the new £2.6 million Centre for Additive Layer Manufacturing (CALM), opened ten days earlier, which is supported by EADS and part financed by the European Union. The university already had an established reputation for materials research and additive layer manufacturing, having previously worked with companies to develop products as diverse as medical implants, car parts and a museum clock.

The new facility houses additive layer manufacturing machines working in various powder materials, including the UK’s only EOSINT P 800. Built by the German firm, EOS, it can build parts at temperatures up to 385 degrees Centigrade, allowing it to produce parts from high-performance polymers. These materials, including EOS PEEK HP3, are mechanically strong and wear-resistant in the toughest of operating environments. Such polymers are being developed as alternatives to metals for applications in the aerospace, medical and motorsports sectors in particular.

Those producing prototypes and developing new products will benefit from CALM, which will enable businesses, entrepreneurs and researchers to harness the potential of additive layer manufacturing. Businesses will also benefit from the technical expertise of staff at the centre, gained through their experience in industry and engineering research. Heavily subsidised rates are being offered to SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Cornwall to give smaller businesses access to world-class facilities at affordable prices.

Council members of the University of Exeter and senior management also gave David Willets a glimpse of the Forum project, a new £48 million development for the heart of Streatham Campus. The Forum will feature an inspirational mix of outside and inside space that will deliver a new Student Services Centre, retail and catering outlets, a refurbished library, new technology-rich learning spaces, a 400-seat lecture theatre and a new university reception.

Businesses wanting to find out more about the CALM centre and how they can use its facilities can find out more at: www.exeter.ac.uk/calm

GPI Prototype announced that it has completed the installation of an EOSINT M 280 machine from EOS.  The EOSINT M 280 is an updated version of the EOSINT M 270 currently being used at GPI to build metal parts additively.  The addition of a second machine establishes GPI as a leader in rapid prototyping and expands their DMLS material selection to include aluminum and titanium.

GPI is committed to showcasing their additive technology at industry events and informing customers of the benefits and cost savings of additive manufacturing vs traditional machining. On September 14th-15th, 2011 at the ODT Conference & Exhibition in Fort Wayne, Indiana, GPI will be showcasing parts made via DMLS at booth #803.  GPI will also be exhibiting at Design & Manufacturing Midwest on September 20-22, 2011 in Chicago, IL at booth 2234.  GPI has established a foothold in a variety of markets including medical, aerospace, automotive & consumer products.

DMLS offers many advantages vs traditional tooling including the ability to manufacture complex geometries and shapes not possible with CNC machining. Conformal cooling channels can also be integrated into designs to dramatically reduce injection molding cycle/lead times and lower costs.  GPI offers 8 material choices for DMLS including Stainless Steel, Cobalt Chrome, Maraging Steel, Bronze Alloy, Titanium Alloy, Aluminum & Nickel Alloy.  Parts can be built in 20 micron layers with a turnaround time of a few days.

Top-quality, accurate, clean prototypes can be built in hours and shipped to the customer in a few days.

Additional services include Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), 3D Printing (3DP), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Room Temperature Vulcanization (RTV), Investment Casting, Tooling, CNC Machining, Finishing & Painting, Laser Scanning & Packaging solutions.  These services are priced very competitively in the industry while providing the best in quality and customer service.

For more information, visit: www.gpiprototype.com

Attendees seeking to explore the unparalleled benefits that laser-sintering offers to the rapidly expanding unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry can get a good start at Booth 1216 at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America 2011 (Washington, D.C., Aug. 16-19). There EOS, the world-leading manufacturer of laser-sintering systems, will be demonstrating UAV parts and presenting background from technical experts on the use of laser-sintering as a competitive business strategy.

“UAV design and manufacture is the most dynamically growing and evolving sector of the aerospace industry, and it has its own demanding challenges,” says Udo Behrendt, Business Development Manager Aerospace at EOS. “The unique capabilities of our systems meet these challenges while eliminating some of the costs and manufacturing restrictions of traditional processes.”

Laser-sintering involves no tooling, and very little machining or fixturing, making it highly cost-effective and speedy for the low production runs of most UAVs. Re-designs of parts for changing missions and payloads, including mass customization for individual UAVs, are inexpensive as well. Because laser-sintering is an additive manufacturing technology, it can be used to create complex geometries that integrate multiple parts for weight savings, or that fit into the irregular space left in existing assemblies. Designs being laser-sintered for UAVs include fuel tanks, engine shrouds, control vanes, filter boxes, and air ducting, for example.

Available laser-sintered materials are well-suited for unmanned aircraft. EOS AlSi10Mg Aluminum can be used to create lighter-weight thin-walled parts. EOS NickelAlloy IN718 and IN625 provide high tensile strength, excellent processability and uniform corrosion resistance. In plastics, aside from various polyamide 11 and 12 materials, EOS also offers fire-retardant polyamide PA 2210 FR as well as PEEK HP3, the first high-performance thermoplastic polymer available for laser-sintering.

Still more materials options are available from EOS’ strategic partner Advanced Laser Materials (ALM). Between 60 and 70 percent of ALM’s business is creating one-of-a-kind plastics formulations in close cooperation with individual customers. “Just as laser-sintering promotes customized, design-driven manufacturing, we use our expertise with polymer bases and various additives to customize plastics,” says Donald Vanelli, president of ALM. “The customers know best what they want in terms of physical requirements, and we understand how to formulate a plastic to match their needs.” In addition to tailoring materials, ALM also has standardized offerings such as 640-GSL, an extremely lightweight glass- and fiber-reinforced plastic with an average density 15 percent less than nylon—and nylon has about the same density as water—and a high strength imparted by the fibers.

Andrew Snow, Regional Director, Sales, at EOS of North America, says, “The UAV industry has barely begun tapping the potential power of laser-sintering to create innovative, reliable parts. There’s no better proof of how our technology supports unmanned aircraft design and manufacture than the range of invention, in plastics and metals both, that our customers are displaying at this show.”

For more information, visit: http://symposium.auvsi.org/auvsi11/public/enter.aspx