The Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) works with computer design software to produce physical objects. It is one of the Rapid Prototyping technologies. The small, intricate, thin wall models can be created by the use of high quality paper, plastic or composite. It facilitates the manufacturers in producing prototypes or models to create new products. These products can serve different industries and different consumer products. The patterns and molds for the foundry and the investment casting industries can be made as well as the manufacturing of heavy equipments for mining and agricultural industries is done using this technique.

The process uses a carbon-dioxide (CO2) laser to create successive cross-sections of the three-dimensional object from layers of paper with a polyethylene coating on the backside. Firstly a base is created on which the paper attaches itself. This is done by placing a special tape down onto the platform. A sheet of paper is supplied with the aid of small rollers. The, steam is used to heat the coating on the paper so that each new layer will stick to the previous layer.The system’s software slices the geometry along the vertical axis into a number of layers. A rechargeable laser cuts cross sectional layers in an outline of the materials top layer with hatched excess material After all the layers are laminated and cut the excess material is removed to expose the physical “wood like” model of the finished part and the process is termed as de-cubing.

There are multiple advantages of using LOM machines. To begin with it increases the productivity by decreasing the unnecessary machining time from days to hours in the field of manufacturing leading to the faster production of products. The LOM machine has a large Part Block that can be used to contain a large number of small parts. There is direct saving of energy due to the less need of electricity to run the machine as the laser is used to cut the material used in comparison to other processes that refine a metal model. The waste accumulated is reduced significantly. There is considerable cost reduction due to the use of low cost paper in place of photo polymer or metal and expensive machine shop labor is cut. It can operate through out night without any attendance or supervision. LOM technique is a workable option in many cases due to the reason that it uses lower material costs. It is especially suitable for large models foundry patterns, and vacuum-form tooling.