Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) is characterized by what process?

Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) is defined by the process of slicing a CAD model into layers. This technique involves creating a physical object by stacking and bonding layers of material, which are typically sheets of plastic or paper. Each layer is cut to shape using a cutting tool, often a laser, after being adhered to the layer beneath it. The model is constructed layer by layer, allowing for complex shapes and designs to be built up from the flat sheets.

This method differs significantly from other additive manufacturing processes. For instance, the options involving extruding material layer by layer or using lasers to harden material refer to techniques such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Stereolithography (SLA) respectively, which do not align with the fundamental principles of LOM. Additionally, the idea of building parts independently to combine later pertains more to assembly techniques rather than the layer-by-layer bonding process that is essential to LOM. Therefore, slicing a CAD model into layers encapsulates the core concept of Laminated Object Manufacturing.