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2010
Conference Paper
Titel
Rapid manufacturing in automation applications
Alternative
Rapid Manufacturing in Automatisierungsanwendungen
Abstract
Direct and fast manufacturing with Rapid Technologies includes the possibility to make optimized products using the freedom in design features given by this process. This economic production process for small series or even single customized pieces also changes the working environment and work flow of product development engineers and designers. Complex shapes can be realized by these innovative processes directly from CAD data without any geometrical limitations. Using the given freedom in design, assemblies for example may be reduced to one single part. As a result, functional parts can be produced, that are perfectly fitting their task integrating also solutions developed with respect to bionic paradigms. Fraunhofer IPA is presenting some robot grippers that were made by Rapid Manufacturing, in these cases by Lasersintering. The shown grippers are examples of the work of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation. In this field of work, the Institute is concentrating on the research and systematically development of the possibilities that will arise by the new manufacturing processes introduced as processes in industrial scale and quality. Rapid Technologies shorten the well known conventional process chains by cutting some steps like making 2D drawings, tooling and semi finished products logistics. That enables companies for faster and more flexible reaction to market demands.