LAMINATED OBJECT MANUFACTURING (LOM)

 LAMINATED OBJECT MANUFACTURING (LOM)

The paper is unwound from a feed roll onto the stack and first bonded to the previous layer using a heated roller which melts a plastic coating on the bottom side of the paper. The profiles are then traced by a laser optics system that is mounted to an X-Y stage.

After cutting of the layer is complete, excess paper is cut away to separate the layer from the web. Waste paper is wound on a take-up roll. The method is self-supporting for overhang and undercuts. Areas of cross sections which are to be removed in the final object are heavily cross- hatched with the laser to facilitate removal. It can be time consuming to remove extra material for some geometries, however

In general, the finish, accuracy and stability of paper objects are not as good as for materials used with other RP methods. However, material costs are very low, and objects have the look and feel of wood and can be worked and finished in the same manner. This has fostered applications such as patterns for sand castings. While there are limitations en materials, work has been done with plastics,composites, ceramics and metals. Some of these materials are available on a limited commercial basis.

The principal commercial provider of 1.OM systems, Helisys, ceased operation in 2000. However, there are several other companies with either similar LOM technology, or in early commercial stages.

Cubic Technologies is a representative manufacturer of LOM RP machines