Rapid Prototyping moves on metal powders

Characteristically for all commercial processes is the layerwise and freeforming material deposition. The shaping of the part is done by adding of material or by inducing a phase change from liquid or powder to a solid condition instead of the removal from a solid block. The usage of moulds or tools is therefor not necessary. Most of the RP-processes with a high potential for the fabrication of metal or ceramic parts are dealing with powder materials. Well known processes are Lasersintering (SLS, EOSINT), Lasergenerating or cladding, 3D Printing and the Multiphase Jet Solidification (MJS). In the following, two technologies (EOSINT, MJS) will be explained in more detail and a short description of the other process will be given as well.