Objective This project's aim is the realisation of an integrated production system (material/machine/software) for the fabrication of hard metal parts. The main application area of this development is the fabrication of inserts and complete cavities for the mould making sector (plastic injection moulding and non ferrous metal pressure die casting). This system will consist of: A Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) machine Different compositions of hard metal sinterable powders A CAD software for the mould geometry definition Performance of this system will allow the realisation, in a one step SLS procedure, without post sintering operation and with minimal finishing operations, of cavities and inserts directly usable for prpduction moulding tools. Achieving this capability implies major advances in mechanical performances and dimensional control in comparison to state of the art technology. Therefore, the research activity considered is built around the following major developments : To develop three different grades of potentially very high mechanical properties nanophase metal powders. Mechanical alloying techniques will be investigated for the elaboration of highly reactive laser sinterable powders allowing one step direct sintering of high performance/resistance functional parts. To develop innovative approaches to the Selective Laser Sintering principle: Adaptive focusing optics for high power laser Stress free laser layer sintering technique Precompacting powder deposition systems Total ambient control processing chamber To develop economic CAD facilities for very fast translation of STL parts files into mould cavities files with all the required moulding functionality. The partnership relies on top level European competencies in powder R&D and manufacturing, laser machining and software developments to achieve these aims. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringsubtractive manufacturingnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencessoftwaresoftware developmentnatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometrynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics Keywords Nanotechnology Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0201 - Materials engineering Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Centre de Recherches Scientifiques etTechniques de l'Industrie des Fabrications Métalliques - CRIF/WTCM Address 12,rue du bois saint-jean 4102 Seraing Belgium See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Construcciones Mecanicas Mares SA Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address 14,c/ quimica 08110 Montcada i reixac See on map GMP Poliuretani Srl Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via padova 9 31046 Oderzo treviso See on map KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 300 b,celestijnenlaan 300 b 3001 Heverlee See on map Materialise NV Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 60,kapeldreef 3001 Heverlee See on map Prima Industrie SpA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via antonelli 32 10097 Regina margherita di collegno torino See on map TJ Moldes Lda Portugal EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2432 Marinha grande See on map
