Technology Management - Assignment Example

On the other hand, selective Laser Sintering (SLS), the laser beam is used to dictate the sintered cross sectional area on each layer and the area of interest is then printed using a Radiation Absorbing Material (RAM) (Hopkinson & Dickens, 2003). This paper focuses on the description of the methods of rapid manufacturing in high speed printed parts using laser and then outlining the implications of the methods in the field of Rapid Manufacturing (RM). An analysis of the financial and budgetary requirements of these methods will be conducted to determine its implications in the market.

Rapid manufacturing can be described as the process of producing end user products using layer manufacturing methods. This process is rapidly gaining interest from a wide range of firms dealing with engineering applications. Studies have shown that the use of laser techniques such as selective Laser Sintering (SLS) can be very useful in the manufacture of components that occur small in size up to a volume of approximately 14000 units daily (Wohlers,2006). The economic production of components using this method is however inhibited by the underlying cost of purchasing the machines and the build up speed during the production operations.

Companies such as Phonak Hearing Systems and Siemens Hearing Instruments have been using the laser technology to manufacture and have made a record number of 75-100 pieces being produced in about six to eight hours (Wohlers, 2006). Several organizations are already in the pursuit of the design of the layer manufacturing technologies to cater for Rapid manufacturing. The laser technologies normally have smaller build areas as compared to the other methods used in rapid manufacturing but they exhibit a big advantage in terms of speed as compared to the other technologies (Speedpart Technology: Online).

In order to ensure that the product reaches a bigger target market, it will be important to not only consider the currently existing outlets but