Solid Freeform Fabrication of Functional Ceramic Components Using a Laminated Object Manufacturing Technique

Abstract

Lone Peak Engineering (LPE) has demonstrated the feasibility ofusing solid freeform fabrication to prepare advanced structural ceramics using a laminated object manufacturing (LOM) technique. High purity, high density alumina ceramic components were successfully made using the LOM process. The properties oft he laminated object manufactured (LOMed) components were very similar to the physical and mechanical properties of alumina ceramics that were prepared by a conventional pressing process. The LOMed ceramics were also very similar in properties to commercially available alumina ceramics.