LAMINATED OBJECT MANUFACTURING

The LOM process was developed by Helisis Inc. The company shipped the first commercial LOM system in 1991.

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM is a rapid prototyping system in which, layers of adhesive-coated paper are successively glued together and cut to shape with a laser cutter.

PROCESS
The process consists of three phases: pre-processing; building; post-processing

PROCESS

Layer fabrication starts with sheet being adhered to substrate with the heated roller. The laser then traces out the outline of the layer. Non-part areas are cross-hatched to facilitate removal of waste material. Once the laser cutting is complete, the platform moves down and out of the way so that fresh sheet material can be rolled into position. Once new material is in position, the platform moves back up to one layer below its previous position.6.The process can now be repeated.

PROCESS PARAMETERS
LOM 1015 PLUS Part envelope mm Laser power W 381 x 254 x 356 25 LOM 2030 H 813 x 559 x 508 50

Laser beam diameter 0.20-0.26 mm

Motion system repeatability mm 0.05

0.203-0.254
0.0508

System controller System software

Pentium based Windows NT LOM slice

Pentium based Windows NT LOM slice

PROCESS PARAMETERS
Material thickness mm Material size mm Dimension cm Weight kg Power requirements Atmospheric requirements 0.08-0.25 0.076-0.254

711 mm roll width, 356 mm roll width, 711 mm roll diameter 356 mm roll diameter 122.6 x 74.3 x 130.8 206 x 141 x 140 and 59 x 83 x 140 454 1288 and 141 220VAC, 15A, 50/60 220VAC, 30A, 50/60 Hz, single phase Hz, single phase Temp=200 to 270 c Humidity=<50% Temp=200 to 270 c Humidity=<50%

ADVANTAGES

It is a relatively high speed process as the laser is only required to trace the contour and no need to scan the entire cross section. The more volume of material within the part, the more greater is the speed gain. Parts can be used immediately after the process and no post curing is required. No support structure is required as the part is supported by its own material. Simple to use and no environmental concern

DISADVANTAGES

Although there is some choice of materials including paper, plastic, ceramic and composite, the most commonly used material is only paper. Others are still under development. The built parts absorb moisture quickly resulting that the built parts must be post processed immediately and impregnating with epoxy that is specially designed for LOM technology, such as LOMPOXY Inherent deficiency in building fin-shape parts, in other words the process is restricted to build complex parts Since it is very difficult, if not impossible, to remove the waste materials from inside, the process is incapable of building reentrant shapes Fire hazard is occasionally happened when the working chamber becomes too hot

APPLICATIONS

Concept modeling Because of the wooden-like characteristic of the built parts and the large machine working envelop, this process is most suitable for building pattern for sand casting. Considering the specified of the procedure, the main application range is the working area of conceptual design. Used for large bulky models as sandcasting patterns.