Sheet lamination

Abstract

The sheet lamination (SHL) is one of the processes in additive manufacturing technologies. In the past, it has been used extensively to make fast, inexpensive paper prototypes. Then the application expanded to metals, polymers (only thermoplastics), textiles, and ceramics, which also required the improvement of procedures, i.e., devices (3D printers). When the SHL process should be described, it is best to say that it is a process in which layers of already prepared films/foils/plates are joined by gluing, heating, ultrasonic, or welding depending on the material used. The materials must first be processed by classical processing methods into the form of a film, foil, or plate. Unfortunately, the process of processing thermoplastics is no longer used in the world of additive manufacturing technologies, but the area has expanded to the production of polymer composite products with prepreg materials that are used in classical composite parts production.