• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.148-156
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• 2002

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.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.760-765
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• 2001

A new rapid prototyping process, as a transfer type of Variable Lamination Manufacturing by using expandable polystyrene foam (VLM-ST), has been developed to reduce building time, apparatus cost including the introduction and the maintenance and additional post-processing. The objective of this study is to propose a VLM-ST process and to develop an apparatus for implementation of the process. Design criteria of the apparatus were defined and the techniques were proposed to satisfy the design criterion. In order to examine the efficiency and applicability of the developed process, various three-dimensional shapes, such as a world-cup logo, a knob shape and a character, Son-o-kong, were fabricated on the apparatus in which unit shape layer (USL) was generated to build up each layer.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2002

In order to reduce the lead-time and cost, the technology of rapid prototyping (RP) has been widely used. However, RP technologies have disadvantageous characteristics according to their working principle: low building speed, high cost for introduction and maintenance of RP apparatus, stair-stepped surface and additional post processing. A new rapid prototyping process, as a transfer type of Variable Lamination Manufacturing by using expandable polystyrene room (VLM-ST), has been developed to reduce building lime. apparatus cost including the introduction and the maintenance and additional post-processing. The objective of this study is to propose a VLM-ST process and to develop an apparatus for implementation of the process. Design criteria of the apparatus are defined and the techniques arc proposed to satisfy the design criterion. In order to examine the efficiency and applicability of the developed process, various three-dimensional shapes, such as a world-cup logo. a knob shape, an extruded cross, a twisted shape, a character, Son-o-kong. a helical gear shaped and a scissor shape are fabricated on the apparatus in which unit shape layer (USL) was generated to build up each layer.