Rapid Prototyping

Rapid Prototyping 3D Printing Laser Object Modelling (LOM) Stereolithography Solid Ground Curing Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)

3D Printing Designed on CAD Sent to the machine Prints layer by layer ABS plastic From a plastic coil, it is heated and comes out of a nozzle Needs support material Excellent speed Fair surface finish Fair accuracy Better price than other options

Laser Object Modelling (LOM) Designed on CAD Information sent to the machine Laser cuts out current layer Layers build up to make 3D object Paper layers Each layer is attached to the previous layer (heated roller applies pressure to bond the new layer)

Laser Object Modelling (LOM) Very good speed Poor quality Poor surface finish Poor material

Stereolithography Designed on CAD Information sent to the machine Employs a vat of liquid ultraviolet curable photopolymer "resin" and an ultraviolet laser to build parts' layers one at a time. For each layer, the laser beam traces a cross-section of the part pattern on the surface of the liquid resin. Exposure to the ultraviolet laser light cures and solidifies the pattern traced on the resin and joins it to the layer below.

Stereolithography Large part size Accurate Average speed Very good surface finish

Solid Ground Curing Process of hardening of photopolymers by a complete lighting and hardening of the entire surface (the ENTIRE LAYER), using specially prepared masks.

Solid Ground Curing Designed on CAD Information sent to the machine The cross section of each slice layer is calculated The optical mask is generated conforming to each cross section. Platform is covered with a thin layer of liquid photopolymer. The mask corresponding to the current layer is positioned over the surface of the liquid resin, and the resin is exposed to a high-power UV lamp. The residual liquid is removed from the work piece by an aerodynamic wiper. A layer of melted wax is spread over the work piece to fill voids. The wax is then solidified by applying a cold plate to it. The layer surface is trimmed to the desired thickness by a milling disk. The wax is melted away upon completion of the part.

Solid Ground Curing Good speed Good accuracy Good surface finish

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Designed using CAD Information sent to the machine Powders of different materials (metal/ceramics/polymers) are used Laser hits the selected area :aser fuses powders (sintering) Makes the particles melt and solidify Powder bed lowered after each layer

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Average to good speed Good accuracy Good surface finish Good material

Materials Overview 3D Printing – solid plastic models Laser Object Modelling (LOM) – paper only Stereolithography – resin/polymers Solid Ground Curing - photopolymers Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – metal/cermamic/polymer powders