From Rapid Prototyping to eManufacturing

Additive Manufacturing technologies have been a revolution to R&D process efficiency and are in place for many years now. The technologies have very much matured ever since and thus seem to pave their way to direct parts business. Looking back to traditional manufacturing methods, the industrial market has developed highly productive and flexible Machine Tools over time to comply with the requirements of a wide spectrum of industrial applications. These machines have set standards and thus set the expectation benchmark of industry customers. Additive Manufacturing opens up an enormous additional potential for industrial applications, however competing with traditional production methods. Electro Optical Systems (EOS) is gearing its portfolio and market activities clearly towards manufacturing applications. We will show, which activities EOS are taking to go this road. The example of handling and robotics industry illustrates which additional value Laser Sintering can achieve. In this context, the gripper technology is a front runner for innovative solutions - lightweight and integrated functionality are key value drivers for handling & robotics. Existing applications are intensively profiting from this new technology: From gripper weighing less than 20g and being able to can handle 10kg parts to high-speed pick and place solutions being fully integrated into today's automation environment. Additive Manufacturing is opening up economically valuable production up to lot size one - metal implant parts for human bodies are another perfect example for this mass individualization approach.