A large number of competing technologies are available in the marketplace. As all are additive technologies, their main differences are found in the way layers are built to create parts. Some are melting or softening material to produce the layers (SLS, FDM) where others are laying liquid materials thermosets that are cured with different technologies. In the case of lamination systems, thin layers are cut to shape and joined together.
As of 2005, conventional rapid prototype machines cost around £25,000.
| Prototyping technologies | Base materials |
|---|---|
| Selective laser sintering (SLS) | Thermoplastics, metals powders |
| Fused deposition modeling (FDM) | Thermoplastics, eutectic metals. |
| Stereolithography (SLA) | photopolymer |
| Laminated object manufacturing (LOM) | Paper |
| Electron beam melting (EBM) | Titanium alloys |
| 3D printing (3DP) | Various materials |
Rapid prototyping worldwide
In 2006, John Balistreri and others at Bowling Green State University began research into 3D Rapid Prototyping machines, creating printed ceramic art objects. This research has led to the invention of ceramic powders and binder systems that enable clay material to be printed from a computer model and kiln fired for the first time.
The Audi RSQ was made by Audi with rapid prototyping industrial KUKA robots
No comments:
Post a Comment