The efficiency of model making has increased over the years and now what took a week to produce, could take a couple of days. The technology that has changed model making is rapid prototyping, which allows a model to be produced directly from a 3D CAD drawing. This includes laser sintering (SLS) technologies.

SLS is a low cost solution to building multiple parts, without the expense of tooling costs. It is a 3D manufacturing process that uses an Argon laser to draw your part, one slice at a time, onto finely powdered nylon 12 whilst melting the layers together (sintering) to form a solid component.

The process is, says the company, fully self-supporting, allowing for parts to be built within other parts with complex geometry that simply could not be built any other way, giving you complete freedom of design.

Ogle Models and Prototypes make the most out of the build volume, multiple copies of the same part, or even different parts, can be made at the same time, which means it is the most cost effective method available.

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Ogle Models and Prototypes Ltd is based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. www.oglemodels.com