[livia]

Hi Bobsteele! What a passion and what a wonderful place you live in! In my next life I will live overthere, I hope!

By the way, to be honest it's really difficult to say which laser sintering machine is better, between EOS and 3D Sys (DTM).
We know very very well both EOS and 3D Sys technologies and managements...and at the end we always chose 3D Sys. We make R&D on materials and so we need an “open” machine and SW, and EOS is very closed and “limited”. Both EOS and 3D Sys machines lack of reliability and repeatability, but 3D Sys has the best patent in this technology: the ROLLER!! And something more…in any case we were able to suit our materials for 3D Sys and EOS machines too and they run the same…and the final performance is fine on EOS machines too! So EOS it’s fine too!
Actually I have to say that it’s really possible to make RM on laser sintering machines and lots of service providers and end users are doing it! On F1 racing cars (not only windtunnel I mean) for example there are many aerodynamic parts, covers, fluid ducts, and so on made by SLS and on street cars too! And the same on racing or street motorbikes, and bikes…and so many other applications…The real problem is not the mechanical performance of parts, but the thermal one! I mean, since we are at room temperature (or a little over) it’s possible to use laser sintered parts as aluminium or magnesium parts (with the same loads!), when the temperatures go over 150/180 C deg it’s necessary to make parts in metal alloys…in particular with high loads.

Last, if we have to speak about dreams, soon or late these technology will be productive and reliable as CNC machining …but we have to wait for years at least!

Other RP technologies, besides SLA that is more or less the same performance as LS, actually are not ready for hi-performance parts, not enough stiffness, not enough UTS, low details definition, very low thermal properties…just perfect for designers and cheap applications…

Ah, I’m not annoyed! I love to exchange opinions and to get in touch with other minds! It’s the basis for every biz!!

Cheers!