通过科学测量系统公司总部的计算机层析X射线摄影法获得发动机活塞头内外尺寸的数字数据。然后将这些数据通过市区电话传送到得克萨斯大学实验室的激光烧结系统,2小时内烧结系统便产生该部件的聚合物复制品。在激光烧结计算机辅助设计中,此数据用于将CO_2激光束从烧结头易熔的粉末中导向三维模型。该工艺由得克萨斯大学发明。 Digital data on the internal and external dimensions of the piston head of the engine were obtained by computer tomography at the headquarters of Scientific Metrology Systems. The data is then routed via city phone to the laser sintering system at the University of Texas Laboratory where the sintering system produces a polymer replica of the part within two hours. In laser sintering computer-aided design, this data is used to guide a CO 2 laser beam from the fusible powder in the sintered head to a three-dimensional model. The process was invented by the University of Texas.