1995 / Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings
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Author E. Alair Griffin, Scott McMillin Lone Peak Engineering
Source Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings, 1995, pp 25-30
Abstract A variety of solid freeform fabrication (SFF) techniques have been developed to produce prototype parts directly from a computer-aided drawings (CAD ) without any hard tooling, dies or molds. Most of these techniques use polymer, wax, or paper materials to produce the parts. These techniques, with some modifications, can be used to rapidly prototype functional ceramic parts. Once developed, these techniques could also be used to manufacture small quantities of ceramic parts on a just-in-time basis. Fabrication using conventional techniques is a costly, time-consuming, and inflexible process when a few ceramic prototypes or when small quantities of parts are needed. Solid freeform fabrication of ceramic parts offers numerous advantages over conventional processing. Prototypes can be prepared rapidly and cost-effectively. Design changes can be made easily and inexpensively. Larger number of design options can be investigated. Parts can be designed and engineered to take advantage of the stronger properties of ceramics, while minimizing the weaker ones. Typically, ceramic parts are made using an existing design, regardless of the material used for the original part. The ability to rapidly prototype a ceramic component will contribute to concurrent engineering, a popular desion process being used today. (Auth abstract) [References: 3]
Solid Freeform Fabrication Proceedings can be obtained from: The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
or contact:
The University of Texas at Austin
Laboratory for Freeform Fabrication / Texas Materials Institute
Mechanical Engineering Dept.
c/o The Solid Freeform Fabrication Symposium
MC C2200
Austin, TX 78712-1063 USA
512-471-3026; 512-471-7681 FX; Email: sffsymp@uts.cc.utexas.edu