ISSN:
1433-3015
Keywords:
Optimal part orientation
;
Rapid prototyping
;
Spilling process
;
Trapped volume
;
Voxelization
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
Notes:
Abstract Prototypes of a design are always needed for the purposes of visualisation and evaluation for manufacturability, functionality, and aesthetic appearance. Since the prototyping process requires a significant amount of cost and time, various rapid prototyping processes have recently been introduced. However, it is usually necessary for a part built up by a rapid prototyping system to be finished by a post-processing process, in which the stair steps on the surfaces, the support structures (if they exist), and the unprocessed material are eliminated. This post-processing is usually done manually and is a time-consuming task. Eliminating the trapped volumes (the volume of the unprocessed material entrapped by the solidified portion) is sometimes impossible in some processes. This study provides a designer with a tool to detect the existence of trapped volumes and to calculate the quantity in a given build-up direction, so that a suitable build-up direction is chosen or the part is built in pieces to avoid the problems caused by the trapped volumes. Since the proposed algorithm can efficiently calculate the amount of the trapped volumes in any build-up direction, it has the potential for such applications as optimising the build-up direction to minimise the trapped volumes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01179077
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