Ford RP Metal Parts

From: Brock Hinzmann (SRI International)
Date: Monday, October 24, 1994

From: Brock Hinzmann (SRI  International)
To: RP-ML
Date: Monday, October 24, 1994
Subject: Ford RP Metal Parts
At the official dedication of its new Scientific Research Laboratory last
week, Ford Motor Company unveiled its new RP technique to make prototypes in
production metals. The technique is at once simple and beautiful. The solid
CAD model is sectioned, to expose internal cavities and channels, the
sections are milled from production materials (steel, aluminum) on an NC
machine, the sections are then brazed together and finished. All the time and
cost advantages of RP are realized in a metal part, without intermediate
steps of a plastic or wooden prototype. Of course, Ford can also mill casting
wax by the same process. It seems to me this technique could be a real threat
to vendors of RP machines. Ford has applied for patents. Any comment?

Brock Hinzmann


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