• Korean Journal of Computational Design and Engineering
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.212-221
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• 2003

In order to reduce the lead-time and cost, the technology of rapid prototyping (RP) has been widely used. A new rapid prototyping process, transfer-type variable lamination manufacturing process by using expandable polystyrene foam (VLM-ST), has been developed to reduce building time, apparatus cost and additional post-processing. At the same time, VLM Slicer, the CAD/CAM software for VLM-ST has been developed. In this study, algorithms for accuracy improvement of VLM-ST, which include offset and overrun of a cutting path and generation of a reference shape are developed. Offset algorithm improves cutting accuracy, overrun algorithm enables the VLM-ST process to make a shape of sharp edge and reference shape generation algorithm adds additional shape which makes off-line lamination easier. In addition, proposed algorithms are applied to practical CAD models for verification.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.202-209
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• 2005

A new effective thick-layered RP process, Transfer-type Variable Lamination Manufacturing using expandable polystyrene foam (VLM-ST) has been developed with thick layers and sloped surfaces. VLM-ST has the innate advantages by virtue of its working principle: high building speed, low cost for introduction and maintenance of VLM-ST apparatus, little staircase surface irregularities of parts. Despite these advantages in VLM-ST, the surface roughness of VLM-ST parts is still inadequate to be used as RP master patterns for rapid tooling (RT). This paper describes the systematic and effective methodology to remove the laminated pattern and improve the surface roughness for VLM-ST parts. From the results of surface finishing of VLM-ST parts, it can be seen that the laminated pattern is completely removed and the surface characteristics such as surface roughness, surface hardness, and paintability are improved.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.759-762
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• 2000

Rapid Prototyping (RP) techniques have their unique characteristics according to the working principles: stair-stepped surface of parts due to layer-by-layer stacking, low build speed caused by line-by-line solidification to build one layer, and additional post processing to improve surface roughness, so it is required very high cost to introduce and to maintain RP apparatus. The objective of this study is to develop and design a new RP process, Variable Lamination Manufacturing using expandable polystyrene foam sheet as part material (VLM-S), which can make up for the disadvantage of existing techniques, and to develop an apparatus to implement the process. In order to examine the possibility of practical utilization of the proposed VLM-S process for prototyping of a general three-dimensional shape, an auto-shift lever knob and a pyramid shape were fabricated.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.323-331
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• 2002

The combination of rapid prototyping(RP) and rapid tooling(RT) has a potential for rapid manufacturing of three-dimensional parts. In the present study, a new RP system transfer type Variable Lamination Manufacturing using Expandable Polystyrene Foam (VLM-ST), is proposed to fabricate net shapes of three-dimensional prototypes. Various three-dimensional parts, such as a knob shape and a human head shape, are manufactured by the VLM-ST apparatus. In addition, a new rapid tooling technology, which utilizes a room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) molding technique and a triple reverse process technique, is proposed to manufacture net shapes of three-dimensional plastic parts using the prototypes of VLM-ST. A plastic part of the knob shape is produced by the proposed RT technology. The combination of the proposed RP and RT enables the manufacture of a plastic knob within two days.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.97-105
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• 2002

The use of rapid prototyping (RP) has reduced time to market, cut total costs and improved product quality by giving design and manufacturing teams the opportunity to verify and fine tune designs before committing them to expensive tooling and fabrication. In order to improve their unique characteristics according to the working principles, Variable Lamination Manufacturing process (VLM-ST) and corresponding CAD/CAM software (VLM-Slicer) is developed. The objective of this study is to improve the accuracy of VLM-ST process, and it can be done by offset fur cutting error correction, cutting path overrun fur sharp edge and reference shape generation for off-line stacking. It has been shown that, through the verification experiments for given practical shapes, the proposed algorithms are effective for diverse categories of three-dimensional shapes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.599-602
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• 2002

A novel rapid prototyping (RP) process, an automated transfer type variable lamination manufacturing process (Automated VLM-ST) has been developed. In Automated VLM-ST, a vacuum chuck and linear moving system transfer the plate type material with two pilot holes to the rotation stage. A four-axis synchronized hotwire cutter cuts the material twice to generate Automated Unit Shape Layer (AUSL) with the desired width, side slopes, length, and two reference shapes in accordance with CAD data. Each AUSL is stacked on the stacking plate with two pilot pins using the pilot holes in AUSL and the pilot pins. Subsequently, adhesive is supplied to the top surface of the stacked AUSL by a bonding roller and pressure is simultaneously applied to the bottom surface of the stacked AUSL. Finally, three-dimensional shapes are rapidly fabricated. This paper describes the procedure for generating the cutting path data (AUSL data) f3r automated VLM-ST. The method for the generation of the Automated Unit Shape Layer (AUSL) in Automated VLM-ST was practically applied and fabricated for a various shapes.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.1047-1050
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• 1997

Rapid Prototyping(RP) is an efficient method for rapid design verification and trial manufacturing. In order to improve their unique characteristics according to the working principles. Variable Lamination Manufacturing process and corresponding CAD/CAM system is developed. The objective of this study is to improve dimensional accuracy of VLM-ST process, and it can be done by offset for cutting error correction, cutting path correction for sharp edge and reference shape generation. To verify the proposed algorithms, they applied to three-dimensional shapes, such as spanner and mechanical part.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2000.11a
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• pp.763-766
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• 2000

Rapid Prototyping(RP) techniques have their unique characteristics according to the working principles: stair-stepped surface of parts due to layer-by-layer stackin, low build speed caused by line-by-line solidification to build one layer, and additional post processing to improve surface roughness, so it is required very high cost to introduce and to maintain RP apparatus. The objective of this study is to develop software for automatic generation of unit shape part (USP) for a new RP process, Variable Lamination Manufacturing using linear hotwire cutting technique and expandable polystyrene foam sheet as part material (VLM-S). In order to examine the applicability of the developed software to VLM-S, USP's of general three-dimensional shapes, such as an auto-shift lever knob and a pyramid shape were generated.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.883-886
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• 1997

In all Rapid Prototyping (RP) processes, a CAD solid model is sliced ito thin layers of uniform, but not necessarily constant, thickness in the building direction. Each cross-sectional layer is successively deposited and, at the same tim, bonded onto the previous layer; the stacked layers form a physical part of the model. The objective of this study is to develop a methode for calculating the rotational angle(θ/sub x/, θ/sub y/) of the linear hotwire cutting system in the three-dimensional space for the Variable Lamination Manufacturing process using expandable polystyrene foam sheet (VLM-S). In order to examine the applicability of the developed method to VLM-S, various three-dimensional shapes, such s a screw, an extruded cross, and a figure of Sonokong, were made using the data obtaiend from the method.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.50-53
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• 2003

Most companies use technologies such as stereolithography, selective laser sintering, and fused deposition modeling to make parts for such small consumer products as telephones, heads, and shoes. The largest part that the existing RP systems can make is only 600 mm in length. Because most RP systems build parts by depositing, solidifying, or sintering material point-by-point, making larger objects takes a long time. and in many cases, large objects won't fit the build size. A new effective thick-layered RP process. Transfer type Variable Lamination Manufacturing using expandable polystyrene foam (VLM-ST) has been developed with thick layers and sloped surfaces. In this paper, a scaledown model of F16 Fighter with the length of 800 mm is rapidly fabricated using the VLM-ST process. In order to build a CAD model of F16 larger than 600 mm in length, the approach in VLM-ST is to build larger parts in multiple sub-parts and then glue them together. The fabricated result shows that the VLM-ST process employing thick layers and sloped surfaces is adequate for creating the real-sized large objects in the diverse fields such as automobiles, electric home appliances, electronics. and etc.