RPMI: Laser Deposition Technology
RPM Innovations Inc. is an engineering firm based out of Rapid City. RPM is a critically acclaimed world leader in “additive manufacturing” thanks to their special, state-of-the-art, 3D printing “Laser Deposition Technology” or LDT.
History
Their parent company, RPM & Associates, originally founded the branch company after being approached by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, in 2001, about teaming up to develop this process. In 2011, RPM Innovations Inc. broke away from its parent company and formed into a separate entity.
Laser Deposition Technology (LDT)
The basics are like this, LDT is a process in which a superheating laser is used to form a pool of melted metal on a pre-formed base, aptly named, the melt pool. While the melt pool is still in its liquid state, powders of various metal alloys are added, at extreme speed, forming a layer. This process is repeated, layer after layer, until the entire part that is being built is fully formed. The design is made in a 3D modelling program, then translated into a physical object. This process is called Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Using this technology, RPM has revolutionized the formation of metal replaceable parts. When one of these intricate and complex parts needs to be built, the product does not need to be manufactured in separate pieces to be welded together later. They simply are a single, complete part.
Who They Work With
RPM is a world leader in laser deposition technology, running up to four workstations at any given time. The company has contracted to build for a large number of notable customers, including, the United States Department of Defense and multiple aerospace, gas, mining and oil companies, worldwide. RPM is planning on upgrading their business to a new 40,000 sq ft facility, and adding a new, fifth workstation later this year.
Citations
[1] J. Harris, RPM Innovations Inc., Manufacturing Today, Chicago, IL, 2016.
[2] RPM-Innovations, RPM Laser Deposition Technology, RPM & Associates, 2017.
RPM Innovations Inc. is an engineering firm based out of Rapid City. RPM is a critically acclaimed world leader in “additive manufacturing” thanks to their special, state-of-the-art, 3D printing “Laser Deposition Technology” or LDT.
History
Their parent company, RPM & Associates, originally founded the branch company after being approached by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, in 2001, about teaming up to develop this process. In 2011, RPM Innovations Inc. broke away from its parent company and formed into a separate entity.
Laser Deposition Technology (LDT)
The basics are like this, LDT is a process in which a superheating laser is used to form a pool of melted metal on a pre-formed base, aptly named, the melt pool. While the melt pool is still in its liquid state, powders of various metal alloys are added, at extreme speed, forming a layer. This process is repeated, layer after layer, until the entire part that is being built is fully formed. The design is made in a 3D modelling program, then translated into a physical object. This process is called Computer-Aided Design (CAD). Using this technology, RPM has revolutionized the formation of metal replaceable parts. When one of these intricate and complex parts needs to be built, the product does not need to be manufactured in separate pieces to be welded together later. They simply are a single, complete part.
Who They Work With
RPM is a world leader in laser deposition technology, running up to four workstations at any given time. The company has contracted to build for a large number of notable customers, including, the United States Department of Defense and multiple aerospace, gas, mining and oil companies, worldwide. RPM is planning on upgrading their business to a new 40,000 sq ft facility, and adding a new, fifth workstation later this year.
Citations
[1] J. Harris, RPM Innovations Inc., Manufacturing Today, Chicago, IL, 2016.
[2] RPM-Innovations, RPM Laser Deposition Technology, RPM & Associates, 2017.