What goes around comes back around???

From: André Dolenc (Helsinki University of Technology), Elaine Hunt (Clemson  University), Marshall Burns (Ennex  Corporation), Terry Wohlers (Wohlers Associates)
To: RP-ML
Date: Wednesday, October 18, 1995
Jeff Norrell writes:
 > Has anyone, stateside, ever verified these sorts of results? I've heard rumors
 > that EOS has claimed direct laser sintering of metals into a non-warped part. I've
 > also heard rumors that, like cold-fusion, these results were not reproducible. Any
 > comments?
     The material used by EOS in their metal sintering process was developed
in the 80's by Electrolux Rapid Development in Finland. Electrolux supplies
the powder, EOS the machine.
     And, yes, there is virtually no shrinking or warpping. You cannot get the
powder anywhere else, and the process is not yet available in the US.
So, no, you probably cannot reproduce the results there.  8-)
     Currently, there are two such machines in Finland. One is used for research,
and the other will be used for business, ie. parts will be supplied
to industry and, of course, the Electrolux group.
     If anyone is interested in making parts with them, here is some contact
information:
Mr. Penti Ja"ntti
Aholantie 17
FIN-21290 Rusko, Finland
Voice: +358-21-4399 600
FAX  : +358-21-4399 620
     For the record, Electrolux has the 2nd oldest SLA250 in Europe. They also have
an SLA500, and both are in Sweden.
Regards, Andre'

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 07:35:32 -0400
Subject: What goes around comes back around???
     Wasn't DTM approached some years back by this same company and they were
sent away?   Is my history book wrong??????
     Are we ever going to stop fighting the RP wars and do something for the
USER??????????
     Just checking facts.
Elaine

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 16:25:44 +0200
Subject: What goes around comes back around???
     The "history" of the metal sintering process has nothing to do with RP wars.
EOS saw a business opportunity where others did not, and the result is,
in my opinion, very good for users: a new, useful process has reached the
market. How long did it take from the time Electrolux contacted EOS and
a prototype machine was ready? 6 months. The powder, on the other hand,
took several years, and was developed with another application in mind.
Regards, Andre'

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 1995 08:44:16 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Sintering powder
Dear Andre',
     That's interesting. Electrolux had a Rapid Development program back 
in the 80s? Looks like they were ahead of the curve.
     What can you (or someone else) tell us about: (a) the application 
that the sintering powder was actually developed for, and (b) the work 
and accomplishments of their Rapid Development program, to the extent 
that any of this is public.

Date: Thu, 19 Oct 1995 09:35:31 +0200
Subject: Sintering powder
     Shells for casting. BTW, they are listed in RP Directory, and I prefer
further questions should be directed to them.
Regards, Andre'

Date: 19 Oct 95 19:34:33 EDT
Subject: Electrolux material
     Elaine - You are right.  DTM did take a close look at the same Electrolux
material years ago.
Terry Wohlers
Wohlers Associates