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Research Article
RAPID PROTOTYPING/RAPID TOOLING A OVER VIEW
AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN ORTHOPAEDICS
Mr. D. CHANDRAMOHAN* Dr. K. MARIMUTHU#
INTRODUCTION
Rapid Prototyping (RP) can be defined as a group of
techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of
a part or assembly using three-dimensional computer
aided design (CAD) data. What is commonly
considered to be the first RP technique,
Stereolithography, was developed by 3D Systems of
Valencia, CA, USA. The company was founded in
1986, and since then, a number of different RP
techniques have become available.
Rapid Prototyping has also been referred to as solid
free-form manufacturing, computer automated
manufacturing, and layered manufacturing. RP has
obvious use as a vehicle for visualization. In addition,
RP models can be used for testing, such as when an
airfoil shape is put into a wind tunnel. RP models can
be used to create male models for tooling, such as
silicone rubber molds and investment casts. In some
cases, the RP part can be the final part, but typically
the RP material is not strong or accurate enough.
When the RP material is suitable, highly convoluted
shapes (including parts nested within parts) can be
produced because of the nature of RP. There is a
multitude of experimental RP methodologies either in
development or used by small groups of individuals.
This section will focus on RP techniques that are
currently commercially available, including Stereo
lithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS),
Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), Fused
Deposition Modeling (FDM), Solid Ground Curing
(SGC), and Ink Jet printing techniques.
In recent years, an industry of producing threedimensional models directly from 3D CAD data has
IJAET/Vol.II/ Issue IV/October-December, 2011/435-448
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TRADITIONAL PROTOTYPING
Prototype manufacture comes late in the product development cycle.
Late visualization of design and manufacturing problems
Materials used are cheap and non toxic
Design of jigs, fixtures etc. required for prototype manufacture
Prototype building has to go through various steps of manufacturing.
Actual materials can be used
All tests are carried out.
Design changes are costly
Product development cycle time is very long
Conventional prototyping is not agile
Requires high skill
Made of plastic or wood
Larger lead time
Very easy
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Stereolithography(SLA)
Laminated Object Manufacturing(LOM)
Selective Laser Sintering(SLS)
Fused Deposition Modeling(FDM)
Solid Ground Curing(SGC)
3D-Printing(3DP)
STEREOLITHOGRAPHY
Stereolithography is a common rapid manufacturing
and rapid prototyping technology for producing parts
with high accuracy and good surface finish. A device
that performs stereolithography is called an SLA or
Stereolithography Apparatus Stereolithography is an
additive fabrication process utilizing a vat of liquid
UV-curable photopolymer "resin" and a UV laser to
build parts a layer at a time. On each layer, the laser
beam traces a part cross-section pattern on the
surface of the liquid resin. Exposure to the UV laser
light cures, or, solidifies the pattern traced on the
resin and adheres it to the layer below.
After a pattern has been traced, the SLA's elevator
platform descends by a single layer thickness,
typically 0.05 mm to 0.15 mm (0.002" to 0.006").
Then, a resin-filled blade sweeps across the part cross
section, re-coating it with fresh material. On this new
liquid surface the subsequent layer pattern is traced,
adhering to the previous layer. A complete 3-D part
is formed by this process. After building, parts are
cleaned of excess resin by immersion in a chemical
bath and then cured in a UV oven.
Stereolithography requires the use of support
structures to attach the part to the elevator platform
and to prevent certain geometry from not only
deflecting due to gravity, but to also accurately hold
the 2-D cross sections in place such that they resist
lateral pressure from the re-coater blade. Supports are
generated automatically during the preparation of 3D CAD models for use on the stereolithography
machine, although they may be manipulated
manually. Supports must be removed from the
finished product manually; this is not true for all
rapid prototyping technologies.
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