Laser 3D's second cooperative tool-making program with Dassault is the use of a (SPL) Stereophotolithography master pattern in a 3D hydrotel tracing machine, where a control stick for the Mirage 2000 Fighter was machined in aluminum by tracing the SPL master pattern. The control stick had complex and ergonomic features. In this Laser 3D/Dassault SPL example, the hydrotel machine scans a plastic SPL part while it machines an aluminum replica. A hydrotel has a stylus and a milling cutter. The stylus motion on the part being traced also controls the motion of the milling cutter that is machining the duplicate of the scanned part. According to Dassault, this process has realized a three-fold cost savings compared to CNC machining. Dassault provided a photo of a mold that was generated from Laser 3D master patterns. Laser 3D patterns for Dassault air conditioning ducts.

Stereophotolithography by Laser 3D Laser 3D (Nancy, France) has developed a process called stereophotolithography. The product itself is called the SPL 1000/LSA. Claude Medard, managing director of Laser 3D, compares it to stereolithography technology from 3D Systems, but claims it is about 10 times faster. The SPL system uses a powerful 1 watt laser. By comparison, the SLA-250 uses a 16mW laser; the SLA-500 uses a 200mW laser. (1000 mW = 1 W) The SPL 1000/LSA will be operational this summer or fall in France. Later this year, the company hopes to install systems in the U.S., operated by service bureaus. Companies in the U.S. that want to gain access to the SPL system will purchase and install a front-end to the system. The front-end reportedly permits you to prepare a CAD file for processing on the SPL system and enables you to send it to the service bureau by modem. A source close to the company (not an employee) claims the system software is about 50 times faster than software used by other RP manufacturers. In addition to the liquid SPL system, Laser 3D is developing RP technologies that use solid films and powders. Laser 3D has access to research facilities at a university in France.

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