Rapid Protoyping

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mech 411 Final Project: Rapid Prototyping

Author(s): | [ Ben White ] |

Filename: | [ Mech411FinalProject.docx ] |

Date: | [ 20-Apr-2013 ] |

Total Pages: | 17 |

Abstract (Executive Summary)

This document includes a report investigating rapid prototyping (RP) which is a new manufacturing technology where prototypes can be created directly from computer models. Five different commonly available RP technologies are investigated, and the basic process, materials used and advantages and limitations of each are detailed. These processes are then compared with traditional manufacturing in terms of the materials, accuracy and cost. The data generation and processing from computer models that is required to drive the RP processes is also detailed. Although RP does not replace traditional manufacturing it can be very useful for a variety of applications including; production of functional prototypes, visualization of designs, small scale manufacturing and the creation of one-off parts.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1

1.1 Objective 1

1.2 Overview 1

2 Rapid Prototyping Technologies 1

2.1 Stereolithography 1

2.1.1 Process Description 2

2.1.2 Materials 2

2.1.3 Summary 3

2.2 Laminated Object Manufacturing 3

2.2.1 Process Description 3

2.2.2 Materials 4

2.2.3 Summary 4

2.3 Selective Laser Sintering 4

2.3.1 Process Description 4

2.3.2 Materials 5

2.4 Fused Deposition Modelling 5

2.4.1 Process Description 5

2.4.2 Materials 6

2.4.3 Summary 6

2.5 3D Printing 7

2.5.1 Process Description 7

2.5.2 Materials 7

2.5.3 Summary 8

2.6 Summary of RP Technologies 8

2.7 Prototyping vs. Other Manufacturing 9

3 Computer Aided Design and Prototyping 10

3.1 Data Processing 10

3.1.1 STL Files and Slicing 10

3.1.2 SLC Format 12

4 Conclusion 12

5 References 13

Table of Figures

Figure 1: Schematic for a SL Apparatus [2] 2

Figure 2: Schematic for a LOM Setup [4] 3...