Conclusion and outlook

The process presented here looks promising for the production of highly complex prototypes, thanks to its speed and low cost. However, it cannot be used for large-scale microfabrication of parts. For the time being, therefore, it seems to be reserved for prototyping applications, or for the custom or small-scale manufacture of truly three-dimensional parts with complex shapes.

A market survey carried out in November 2002 showed that manufacturers were interested in this type of technology, mainly for the watchmaking, jewelry and micromechanics sectors. However, the surface finish of the parts still needs to be improved, by optimizing the coating system. A coating thickness of 10 µm would be considered much more acceptable by potential users of the technique.