Research Activities:

Powder injection moulding (PIM) for small series
part-financed by the Ministry for Science, Research and Culture in Thuringia

Duration
January 2005 - October 2006

Project participants
Technical University of Ilmenau / Department Industrial Engineering, MIM-Technique Schmalkalden GmbH, LieDesign

Aim
The objective of the project was the improvement of the powder injection moulding procedure, typically used for large-lot production. The results are methods and techniques to use the PIM-technologies for both, small series and different moulding materials as metal and ceramics.

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Rapid Tooling on the basis of 3D-jet-printer for micro injection moulding of free forming geometry
(Short designation: Freeform Microtool)
promoted by the Ministry for Science, Research and Culture in Thuringia

Duration
October 2001 - July 2003

Project participants    
Technical University of Ilmenau / Department Industrial Engineering, Eugen Helm GmbH

Aim
This  research project aims at the development of a chain of techniques for economical and fast production of free forming injection moulding cavities within miniature and micro ranges on  the basis of 3D-jet-printing.

Results
The intended project as focused on the development of cost-effective and time-reduced manufacturing techniques for micro products and extension of their capabilities. In addition to applications in large scale manufacture, possibilities of application in small-lot production and in the fabrication of prototypes will also be provided.

Final report: Lecture on 25.05.2004 on the Rapid.Tech in Erfurt

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Development of a lost core technology for the manufacturing of prototypes, forwards-, small- and mass production of parts of plastic and metal featuring a complicated interior geometry
(Short designation: Lost Core Technology)
Project accompanied by INNOREGIO-Südthüringen

Duration
May 2002 - December 2005

Project participants
Technical University of Ilmenau / Department Industrial Engineering and Department Inorganic-Nonmetallic Materials, GPM GmbH, Entec GbR

Aim
The intention of the project was to develop and control suitable core materials from glass and ceramic, particularly for rotary fluidic components as well as define the requirements of necessarily more complex (injection moulding) tools to technologically master the inserting techniques (especially in the case of multiple-divided cores) starting with lot size one and extending to mass production. The project will additionally consider efficient data systems integration, in particular with an efficient derivative of core geometry.

Results
General principles of lost-core-technologies were explored in a pre-competitively stage  and could afterwards be offered to service providers in the field of tool and mould making as well as plastic injection moulding. The discovered procedures and techniques may additionally help final producer in developing complex innovative products.

Final lecture on 05.10.2004 in Schmalkalden

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•  Direct use of rapid prototype models for the fast Rapid-Shell-Cast: promoted by the Ministry of economics in Thuringia, Duration: 1.3.07 - 31.12.07