Marianne Forrest, Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)

• Creation Date:Wednesday 8th October, 2008

Summary

Acclaimed Silversmith Marianne Forrest unveiled her latest wrist watch Palaeolith at this Autumn’s Goldsmith’s Fair. Produced using state-of-the-art Direct Metal Laser Sintering technology, the piece demonstrates how traditional hand skills and new technology can compliment one another. Built by Metropolitan Works the piece was manufactured by machine but finished by hand, resulting in an incredible level of accuracy unachievable by hand alone.

Marianne Forrest commented ‘Palaeolith takes inspiration from pre-historic vertebrae. It grips the arm like a creature wrappings itself around a branch its ‘eye’ looking directly at you as it does so. The Palaeolithic era was the beginning of mans first endeavours at creation and use of tools, alongside these tools early hominids painted their first works of Art on cave walls. Through the centuries tools and human creativity have combined to spawn the new generation of machines that builds with lasers and prints three-dimensional products.’

Palaeolith is produced using a rapid manufacturing technology known as Direct Metal Laser Sintering or DMLS. Developed by EOS, the machine ‘grows’ three-dimensional metal structures by sintering together layers of metal powder to form a solid metal object – enabling it to produce highly accurate models with very fine detail. Metropolitan Works are champions of such digital manufacturing technology and assisted Marianne in the development, file production and manufacture of this revolutionary new piece. Based in East London the Centre encourages and facilitates the creative use of digital technologies for research, development and production across a broad range of disciplines. In addition the centre also offer training, showcasing and advice in key design and business areas.

To see more of Marianne’s work visit her website www.marianneforrest.com