Mask stereo lithography. Faster version of this technology was developed by Cubital Inc. It is called "mask stereo lithography" (Solid Ground Curing or SGC). As the working material it is used the same photopolymer only it is lighted its entire surface with ultraviolet light through the artwork.
Photo mask for each layer is printed on the glass. For this it is used the technology, reminiscent of laser printing. Obviously, this method provides significant gains of performance at the expense of illumination at the same time of the polymer layer instead of the point wise scanning. For instance, the company Envisiontec Prefactory offers installation, which takes only 0.3 m 2, so it can be accommodated even in a small office. Material is lighted by the method of Digital Light Processing, or DLP, similar to that is used in digital projection systems. The size for a single working layer (cross section) is of 1280x1024 pixels with a physical pixel size of 150 or 90 microns. Thickness varies from 150 to 90 microns. Prefactory can create prototypes of up to 190x152x230 mm at speeds up to 15 mm (height) per hour. The control is performed with a computer operating system Linux, link with the outside - through a local network.
Selective laser sintering. An alternative method of stereo lithography is Selective Laser Sintering (or SLS). This process was developed in the 80's of last century in the University of Texas at Austin and patented in 1989 by a graduate of the University Karl Dekard.
Selective laser sintering begins when a very thin layer of fusible during heating of the powder is placed into the cooking chamber of a cylindrical shape. It is used a laser for baking powder, resolved within the boundary of the contour of the working chamber. The laser increases the temperature of the powder to the melting point; there is a partial sintering material and forming it into a solid mass. The intensity of the beam is changed in such a way in order to smelt powder only in areas bounded by the geometry of the future construction. As soon as the laser processes the entire layer of powder in this section, immediately a new thin layer is poured and the process repeats. The component is removed from the processing zones and free powder is shaked. SLS-details can be obtained from powders with different grain sizes depending on the future use of parts.
Laser sintering provides a high quality of finished products, although the surface of the model is obtained porous. Advantage - is sufficient for small series production strength of parts. However, SLS-device is expensive, and the playback speed of a digital model is only a few centimeters per hour, plus a few hours on the heating and cooling of the device. In addition to good accuracy and high strength of derived objects, SLS has also such a dignity as an opportunity to receive details of moving parts, such as moving loop connections.
Do you come across the problem when you want to show your product but there is no model? Then for sure you require rapid prototyping. Moreover this technology can be of great use for marketing while the goods has not been ready yet. Fascinating? Go to this cheap rapid prototyping site.
This rapid prototyping methodology is a powerful tool nowadays. Take advantage of it to explore products, their weak and strong points. Also bear in mind that current Internet technologies offer you a unique chance to try and to find anything you might want. If you want to keep track of new publications on the topic.
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