Part Fabrication Using Laser Machining and Welding

This paper describes the current work on a laser cutting and welding system for the fabrication of prototype parts in mild and .. stainless steels. The relationship to other rapid prototyping systems and to laminated tool production techniques is discussed, the progress to date is described. Difficulties with current welding procedures are outlined and alternative joining techniques are considered.Mechanical Engineerin

Rapid Prototyping Using 3-D Welding

Rapid prototyping systems are based, almost exclusively on polymer, or paper materials. The dimensions of the parts produced are limited by the volume of the processing area within the machine, and parts tend to warp or distort due to shrinkage and lack of support. Also the mechanical properties of the part are restricted to those of the processable materials and thus, in many cases, required 'engineering properties' cannot be obtainedMechanical Engineerin

Production of Metal Prototypes Using a High Powered Laser Machining Centre

The established commercially available rapid prototyping techniques are now well known throughout the manufacturing community. They are able to produce high quality, accurate prototypes, but are limited largely to processing polymer, wax or paper materials. Where a metal part is required, then a further process step, such as investment casting using the prototype part as a pattern is required. As a further point most of the above systems are high capital cost dedicated pieces of equipment. This paper describes the use of laser machining centres as rapid prototyping tools in the areas of, laminated prototyping, using both paper and metal, and laser forming.Mechanical Engineerin

The high temperature stability of aluminium/lithium based alloys containing copper and magnesium

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:D74899/87 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

"Elections, parties and institutional design: A comparative perspective on European Union democracy"

The standard version of the European Union 'democratic deficit' maintains that genuine pan-European elections and parties will only come about if the EU is transformed into a classic parliamentary system: if the European Parliament (EP) is given more power in the legislative and executive-selection processes. Two influential critiques of this view are that majoritarian democracy is inappropriate in such a deeply divided society, and that European level parties would form 'cartels' rather than compete for political office. To assess these claims and critiques, a typology of multi-level systems is developed and a series of hypotheses about the role of elections and parties within these system are proposed. These are subsequently tested in a comparative analysis of eight cases. The key finding is that European elections and parties are unlikely to emerge if the EP is given more power. Nevertheless, real "European' elections and competitive parties may develop if the EU becomes a (partial) presidential/interlocking system: if the institutional balance is kept, but the Commission President is directly elected