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Registered Member #108
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 11:44PM
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 61
Has anyone seen the attempts at developing DIY rapid prototyping machines? I just saw this article the other day and thought it was pretty sweet.
Sorry, bad pun. A thought occurred to me a while ago pertaining to a process of rapid prototyping known as "Solid Ground Curing." It is similar to SLA (stereo lithography) but instead of using a UV laser to cure the photopolymer, SGC uses an electrostatically charged mask and a UV lamp to cure each individual layer (explanation here) .
Instead of using such a mask, I wondered if a transparent screen such as that from a LCD monitor could be used (inspired from projects like this). The screen could display a series of black-and-white images as the level of the photopolymer resin was slowly raised – same idea basically. Eliminating a few of the steps from the process (probably resulting in horrible accuracy), I figured a homebuilt machine would be possible with a little tinkering. There’s only one roadblock – the photopolymer resin used apparently costs $800 per gallon.
Are there any other photopolymer-like substances that could be used? All I could dig up was this UV curable body filler made by Bondo. As well, would the screen from an LCD panel sufficiently filter UV light?
Anyways, it would be a fun project and I already have an LCD torn apart. Thanks for any feedback.
Registered Member #63
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425
Stereolithographic rapid prototyping sucks. Subtractive rapid prototyping by three- or four-axis mill is very DIY feasible and will be much more rewarding.
Although creature-from-the-black-lagoon / stereolithography is one of the very few processes that allows you to replicate absolute interior detail in shadowed or undercut areas on a model, I can't think of much that you'd want to make that includes such areas, that couldn't be replicated with a four axis machine.
Similarly, when you want to make parts out of anything other than photopolymer muck, it gets a whole lot more complicated.
Registered Member #65
Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155
BlackPlasma, it depends on what your intended application is... That sugar system looks interesting as It could use plastic beads too.
Building a mill is easy if: 1.) The XY axis linear positioners are pre-made and aligned. 2.) The Z and or W axis are also mechanically aligned. 3.) The drive system is pre-installed into the above. 4.) The control system has good software...
Having built a 3-axis mill I must confess I never achieved the precision I was seeking from that unit. For the time I put in I could have purchased a Sherline mill 3 times over. But instead reclaimed a professional mill in the end... =)
Check out reprap.org as they seem to cover most hobby issues...
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DIY Rapid Prototyping Machine - Feasable?
