LB:
Thanks for sending the drawing. It's pretty much exactly as I'd sketched it yesterday
when speaking with you on the phone.
This part isn't a good candidate for any RP process, as they exist at the moment. The
one possible exception is ModelMaker technology from Solidscape, or it's slightly more
capable brother Rapid Toolmaker from Sanders International (both companies founded by the
same guy). There are lots of guys using MM, but only a relative handful with the other
technology. You'd want to speak with the Sanders International company directly. Look for
service bureaus on our site for guys using MM and look under the systems providers
listings to find SI.
There are problems with those technologies that are going to lead to a lot of
uncertainty of success, however: This has to be done without support material, or at least
without really completely filling the spaces to be washed out. That may not be possible.
The layering process will certainly leave some roughness. That may be a problem in terms
of extrusion flow or evenness of flow. Of course, the only material available for the
process is some kind of polyester (unspecified) - which I would bet against being
compatible with your solvent, but may be OK for a test. Even though you are running at low
pressure, small differentials may lead to failure in the thin walls specified. The walls
are thinner than a sheet of paper, after all.
In fact, I can only see one way to make this part at all with any degree of success in
its present form. You might even be able to get it in less than a month is you find the
right vendor(s). Let me know what you think that might be worth.
Thanks and best regards,
Ed
Ed Grenda
Castle Island Co.
The Worldwide Guide to Rapid Prototyping
