Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) is an additive manufacturing process developed by Helisys in 1991 that involves stacking and bonding thin sheets of adhesive-coated material and cutting the outline of each layer with a laser. A feed mechanism advances sheets over a build platform where a heated roller bonds each new layer to the previous one after the laser cuts the part outline and the platform lowers by the sheet thickness. This process repeats until the part is completed, with the extra material left to support the part during building.

1. Laminated object manufacturing
The first commercial Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) system was shipped in 1991. LOM was developed
by Helisys of Torrance, CA. The main components of the system are a feed mechanism that advances a sheet over
a build platform, a heated roller to apply pressure to bond the sheet to the layer below, and a laser to cut the
outline of the part in each sheet layer. Parts are produced by stacking, bonding, and cutting layers of adhesive-
coated sheet material on top of the previous one. A laser cuts the outline of the part into each layer. After each cut
is completed, the platform lowers by a depth equal to the sheet thickness (typically 0.002-0.020 in), and another
sheet is advanced on top of the previously deposited layers. The platform then rises slightly and the heated roller
applies pressure to bond the new layer. The laser cuts the outline and the process is repeated until the part is
completed. After a layer is cut, the extra material remains in place to support the part during build.