Abstract
Most Rapid Prototyping (RP) processes adopt a solid Computer Aided Design (CAD) model, which will be sliced into thin layers of constant thickness in the building direction. Each cross-sectional layer is successively deposited and, simultaneously, bonded onto the previous layer; and eventually the stacked layers from a physical part of the model. A new RP process, the transfer-type Variable Lamination Manufacturing process using expandable polystyrene foam sheet (VLM-ST), has been developed to reduce building time and to improve the surface finish of parts with the thick layers and a sloping surface. This paper describes the generation of Unit Shape Layer (USL), the cutting path data of the linen. hotwire cutter for the VLM-ST process. USL is a three-dimensional layer with a thickness of more than 1 mm and a side slope, and it is the basic unit of cutting and building in the VLM-ST process. USL includes data such as layer thickness, positional coordinates, side angles of each layer, hotwire cutting speed, the heat input to the hotwire, and reference shape. The procedure of generating USL is as follows: (1)Generation of the mid-slice from the CAD model, (2)Conversion of the mid-slice into a simply connected domain, (3)Generation to the reference shape for the mid-slice, (4)Calculation of the rotation angle of the hotwire of the cutting system.
