The CAM-LEM Process
The CAM-LEM approach, like other rapid prototyping
methods, originates in a CAD model decomposed into boundary contours of
thin slices. In CAM-LEM these individual slices are laser cut from sheet
stock of engineering material (such as "green" ceramic tape)
per the computed contours. The resulting part-slice regions are extracted
from the sheet stock and stacked to assemble a physical 3-D realization
of the original CAD description. The assembly operation includes a tacking
procedure that fixes the position of each sheet relative to the pre-existing
stack.
After assembly, the layers are laminated
by warm isostatic pressing (or other suitable method) to achieve intimate
interlayer contact, promoting high-integrity bonding in the subsequent
sintering operation. The laminated "green" object is then fired
(with an optimized heating schedule) to densify the object and fuse the
layers and particles within the layers) into a monolithic structure. The
result is a 3-D part which exhibits not only correct geometric form, but
functional structural behavior as well.
The following features distinguish CAM-LEM from other
rapid-prototyping methods:
- fabrication of laminated objects using a wide variety
of engineering materials
- sections are cut separately from sheet stock, then
selectively extracted and stacked
- allows multiple material types to be used within a
single build
- formation of interior voids and channels without manual
waste removal
- separation of geometric formation from materials processes
- fabrication of functional engineering parts for early
durability testing
CAD Model..........................
Contour Representation....... 
Slice Cutting....................... 
Stacking.............................. 
Lamination......................... 
Firing.................................. 
Finished Component............ 
Components Fabricated using CAM-LEM
Back to the CAM-LEM main document