I recently posted about a new rapid-prototyping process for metals called Electron Beam Melting. In the post, I posed the question about the possibility of using EBM to make quick turn injection molds for plastic components. I had a chance to talk to a representative from Stratasys about this potential application. He informed me that this could be done but the rapid mold would have a rough finish and so would the injection molded parts. He also indicated that this approach would be a fairly expensive option for injection mold tooling and that there are other means that yield better results. The ideal application in the medical industry for EBM is orthopedic prototypes and other metal components.
